The biggest story at Eintracht Frankfurt right now is off the pitch. Sporting director Markus Krösche departed the club on Sunday evening, as confirmed by the club, with Frankfurt granting his request for immediate release despite a contract running until 2028. The decision followed weeks of internal discussions between Krösche and supervisory board chairman Mathias Beck, and comes after a turbulent period that included the ill-fated appointment of Albert Riera as coach last season and a difficult start to the current campaign. Within hours of his exit, transfer expert Matteo Moretto reported that Krösche is close to joining AC Milan, with whom he had already held intensive talks and reached broad financial agreement.

On the pitch, Frankfurt are rebuilding confidence after a catastrophic 0-6 defeat at RB Leipzig on matchday five left the club with 16 goals conceded and serious questions about their defensive organisation. Trainer Adi Hütter publicly criticised captain Robin Koch after that result, though he later reaffirmed Koch's position in the squad and as skipper. The response came on Friday, when Frankfurt beat Köln 1-0 to claim a second league win of the season and move up to 11th in the table with eight points from six games.

Next up is a trip to Borussia Dortmund on 24 October, a side in excellent form, which means the pressure on Hütter and a squad in transition remains very real.