New Eintracht Frankfurt head coach Albert Riera – despite being the only Bundesliga coach working with a language barrier – has largely had no difficulty adjusting to Germany since his surprise appointment some six weeks ago. Sunday delivered a different moment.
The highly energetic and enthusiastic head coach had to answer for the fact that he dropped Mario Götze from his matchday squad ahead of Sunday’s Bundesliga loss against Mainz. Germans naturally had to know why their 2014 World Cup hero had to watch from the stands.
Götze has actually started three league fixtures under Riera, but remained unused on the bench in the last two Bundesliga rounds. The 33-year-old is neither injured nor carrying any sort of lingering injury. Much of this has to do with the fact that players such as Ansgar Knauff, Younes Enboutalib, Arthur Theate, and Can Uzun have recovered from injury.
Speaking to DAZN prior to kickoff, Riera cited the need to keep defender Elias Baum on the squad as the lone defensive relief player. Riera then lauded Götze for his “professionalism” and “character” in accepting the decision. The Spaniard cited his experience on the Spanish national team as an example of the fact that sometimes there simply isn’t enough room.
Riera then got feisty at the press conference.
“You asked me a question, I’ll ask you a question,” Riera – visibly agitated – began in response to the Götze query. “Which player should I remove from the team to make room for Mario? Who? Tell me one player.
“Don’t tell it to me,” Riera then continued, answering his own rhetorical question. “No, don’t tell it to me. Tell it to him [the player hypothetically dropped for Mario]. No, [Elias] Baumi, you’re not in the squad. No Oscar [Højlund], you’re not in the squad.
“I needed the players who were in the squad today,” Riera went on, deliberately talking over the reporter’s attempt at a follow up question. “I need them. Two defenders injured. Who else do I have but Baumi on the bench? If I could take 21 players, Mario would be there.“
“They can’t all go into the squad,” Riera continued. “Mario is a fantastic professional with a fantastic character. He and everyone else understands that every game is different and requires different players. Maybe next game he’ll be in.“
