Germany national team coach Jürgen Klopp visited Eintracht Frankfurt's training ground on Wednesday, casting his eye over several players in contention for a call-up. The 59-year-old also took time to speak with young striker Younes Ebnoutalib following his weekend hat-trick.
Eintracht Frankfurt begins the new Bundesliga season with one point from one game, placing them eighth in the table. Adi Hütter's side is now preparing for their next home match against fourth-placed FC Augsburg on September 6th. With three goals scored and three conceded, the defensive record shows room for improvement.
Which players were on Klopp's radar?
Several Eintracht players who are candidates for the German national team were in Klopp's focus. These include experienced forward Jonathan Burkardt (26), centre-back Robin Koch (30), and goalkeeper Noah Atubolu (24). However, the Bundestrainer paid particular attention to 22-year-old Younes Ebnoutalib. The Frankfurt-born striker, who is also eligible to play for Morocco, scored three goals last weekend. Ebnoutalib would not reject a call-up from Klopp.
Youth talents Nnamdi Collins (22), Elias Baum (20), and Noel Aseko (20) from Eintracht Frankfurt's U21s are also being considered for DFB selection. Klopp will name his first squad as national team coach on September 17th.
What happened during the training visit?
Klopp observed the session under coach Adi Hütter (56) closely. In a relaxed atmosphere, he even engaged in a joking comparison with midfielder Can Uzun. "With Eintracht playmaker Can Uzun (20), who has significantly increased his muscle mass over the last two summers, the national team coach can even be seen in a joking muscle comparison," Klopp was quoted as saying. Uzun, born in Regensburg, chose to play for the Turkish national team two years ago.
The visit to Eintracht Frankfurt was part of a short tour for the new national coach. Klopp had already attended training at Mainz 05 on Tuesday. His close relationship with Mario Götze (34), with whom he worked at Borussia Dortmund and whom he has met multiple times for padel on Mallorca, likely facilitated the visit further.
What does the visit mean for Eintracht?
The national coach's presence highlights the increased importance of Eintracht's squad for the German national team. "The national team coach definitely has the Frankfurt striker in his sights," Klopp said regarding Ebnoutalib. For the players themselves, being watched by Klopp provides extra motivation, especially in the upcoming phase of the season. Eintracht Frankfurt aims to close the two-point gap to leaders Bayern München and make the next games successful.
The team is now fully focused on preparing for the Bundesliga home game against FC Augsburg this coming Sunday.
