After the match, head coach Adi Hütter was unusually blunt about his team’s defensive shortcomings, publicly criticised captain Robin Koch and also took responsibility for Frankfurt’s poor start to the season.
Hütter on the 6-0 defeat
“Of course, it’s a heavy defeat for us. When you start a match like that and concede after just five minutes, despite having prepared well throughout the week, everything gets thrown into disarray.”
Despite the scoreline, Hütter felt his side had played some decent football at times.
“There were spells when we actually played good football. At 2-0 down, I thought we had opportunities to pull a goal back. But ultimately, if you defend like that and allow Leipzig those kinds of counterattacks, your defending simply isn’t good enough for the Bundesliga.”
Hütter on Frankfurt’s defensive problems
With 16 goals conceded already, Frankfurt’s defence has become the team’s biggest problem. For Hütter, however, the issue has little to do with the formation.
“The criticism is absolutely justified. There’s no point beating around the bush. It doesn’t matter whether we play with a back three or a back four. We have to defend much better as a team.”
The coach was particularly frustrated by his players’ reactions when possession was lost.
“At times, our attacking play looked quite decent, but every Leipzig counterattack was extremely dangerous. Our recovery runs weren’t good enough. And the way we defended in our own penalty area at times is something we urgently need to address.”
Above all, Hütter felt his team lacked the determination it had previously shown in other matches.
“What I missed was the passion and mentality to throw yourself in front of a shot and defend your goal with everything you’ve got.”
Hütter on substituting Robin Koch
Hütter was particularly outspoken about captain Robin Koch, whom he substituted at half-time.
“I also took Robin Koch off to relieve him of the situation to some extent. I simply expect something different from a senior player and captain.”
For the Frankfurt coach, the substitution was deliberately intended to send a message to the squad.
“When you’ve conceded 16 goals and he’s supposed to be the leader of the defence, there comes a point when you have to make a statement. I really wasn’t happy with what I saw, and that’s why I took him off.”
At the same time, Hütter made it clear that he did not want to blame the defeat on any individual player.
“We win and lose as a team. I’m the one responsible. First and foremost, the criticism should be directed at me.”
Hütter on the team’s senior players
After the match, Jonathan Burkardt had suggested that Frankfurt’s senior players had failed to deliver. Hütter did not fundamentally disagree with that assessment.
“I’ve heard what our players said, and they were right. Nevertheless, I still think we played some really good football between the goals we conceded.”
For Hütter, the statistics also highlighted Leipzig’s ruthless finishing.
“RB Leipzig had ten shots on target and scored six goals. We had nine shots on target and didn’t score a single one. At 2-0, we certainly had opportunities to get ourselves back into the game.”
That is precisely one of Frankfurt’s current problems: while they fail to convert their own chances, almost every defensive mistake seems to be punished.
Hütter on Frankfurt’s difficult start to the season
Five matches, five points and already 16 goals conceded – Frankfurt’s start to the campaign has fallen well short of expectations. Hütter also pointed to the major squad overhaul during the summer.
“Of course, you hope for a different start. There was a huge amount of movement in the squad. Twelve players left and six came in. Some players returned very late, while others only joined us towards the end of the preparation period.”
Missing out on European competition also contributed to the changes.
“We have to rebuild to a certain extent. We’re going through a transition, and that requires some patience.”
After a 6-0 defeat, however, Hütter acknowledged that such explanations are difficult to put forward.
“When you lose 6-0, you obviously don’t have many arguments in your favour. But I still believe in this team. We have potential, and you could see glimpses of that today.”
Hütter believes the problems go back to last season
What concerns the Frankfurt coach most is that the team’s defensive vulnerability is far from a new phenomenon.
“We conceded far too many goals last season, and now we’re conceding far too many again. That’s where we have to focus our efforts.”
For Hütter, the priority is clear.
“That’s the problem we have to get under control as quickly as possible. We have to work hard on it.”
After the 6-0 humiliation in Leipzig, Frankfurt’s problems appear to be less about formations and more about basic defensive principles. Hütter’s message following his side’s heaviest defeat of the season was unmistakable: a team that loses so many straightforward defensive situations at this level will struggle to succeed, regardless of its tactical setup.
