At the press conference before Eintracht Frankfurt's difficult away match at Borussia Dortmund on Saturday evening, Adi Hütter publicly criticised Can Uzun. In Frankfurt's 1-0 win over 1. FC Köln, Uzun stayed on the bench for the full 90 minutes after previously always being in the starting line-up.
Hütter's message to Uzun
Hütter said at the press conference: "I've spoken to him about it several times. I'm only here to support him, but also to open his eyes to the fact that there are two directions in football and that it is a team sport. The sooner Can understands that football is a team sport in which he can contribute his abilities, the sooner he will have a very great career. If not, he may end up standing in his own way."
The Austrian also called Uzun "a very good footballer, there's no need to debate that. But I expect consistency, and for him to show the abilities he has during the week as well as in matches."
Hütter added: "He didn't play once. And immediately it becomes an issue. That's what I can't understand at all. It's not fair to everyone else, either."
Starting places depend on performance
To Uzun and the other substitutes from the Köln match, he delivered a clear message: "Everyone can play their way back into the starting line-up. At the end of the day, it always comes down to performance. I also want the competition for places to intensify."
Koch taken off at half-time against Leipzig
During the 6-0 defeat against RB Leipzig, Hütter substituted Robin Koch at half-time. He said: "I simply expect something different from a leader and captain. When you concede 16 goals and you're a leader in defence, at some point I have to send a message. I didn't like that at all. I expect more from Robin."
Koch praised after Köln clean sheet
Against Köln, Koch played and Eintracht kept a clean sheet for the first time this season. Hütter was quick to acknowledge it: "Huge compliments to Robin Koch for producing a performance like that after this week. He dominated in the air and won every header. The way he led the team, too, he gets special praise from me today."