The most significant development at Eintracht Frankfurt right now has nothing to do with what happens on the pitch. Sporting director Markus Krösche resigned with immediate effect on Sunday evening, as confirmed by the club, bringing an end to a five-year tenure that delivered the Europa League title in 2022 but deteriorated sharply in recent months. The club had been preparing for his departure even before the announcement, with reports earlier on Sunday suggesting his exit was imminent and that a successor search was already under way. Axel Hellmann was simultaneously appointed as Vorstandsvorsitzender in an emergency board meeting.

On the field, Frankfurt are trying to find their footing after a wretched opening to the season. The 0:6 collapse at RB Leipzig on matchday five was the low point, prompting coach Adi Hütter to publicly criticise captain Robin Koch before reaffirming his confidence in him days later, drawing sharp words from Lothar Matthäus. The 1:0 home win over Cologne on Friday, secured by a Younes Ebnoutalib goal in the 77th minute, offered some relief. Frankfurt sit eleventh in the Bundesliga with eight points from six games, but 16 goals conceded remains a damaging figure.

The next test arrives on 24 October at Borussia Dortmund, a side in excellent form, making it a stern examination of whether the recent win signals genuine recovery or merely a pause in a difficult season.