Albert Riera, known for his distinctive personality, often clashed during his tenure at Eintracht Frankfurt. He has now openly criticized his former club, drawing an unusual parallel with Angelina Jolie.
Riera’s stint with Eintracht Frankfurt was brief but intense. The Spaniard spent just over three months and managed only 14 games on the sidelines for SGE. In a recent interview, he delivered sharp criticism of his former team in his typical fashion.
«We simply didn’t fit together. Look at the beautiful Angelina Jolie and the charming Brad Pitt, for example. Both are wonderful, but they don’t fit together,» stated the 44-year-old to Slovenian TV channel Sportklub. «Why? Because it’s not just about outward appearance; small details determine whether something works or not.»
Riera took over from Dino Toppmöller in Frankfurt somewhat unexpectedly in early February, with the aim of stabilizing the club, particularly its vulnerable defense. However, the coach, who had a playing career at clubs like Manchester City, Liverpool, and Galatasaray, was primarily noted for his striking remarks and, like in some previous club roles, often ruffled feathers in the Main metropolis.
«I arrived at the wrong place at the wrong time. That’s the reality. I don’t know if anyone else would have done better; we’ll never know,» he concluded, identifying Mario Götze’s benching as the turning point of his time in Frankfurt. «After five weeks, during which we won three games, drew one, and lost 2-3 to Bayern, there was a break after which I dropped an important player from the squad. From then on, Albert Riera’s problem in Germany began.»
Riera Cites Two Reasons for Failure in Frankfurt
According to Riera, there were «two reasons why this story didn’t have a successful ending. At that moment, the club valued names more than results, and at the same time, I realized at that point that I wouldn’t get the player profiles I desired at Eintracht and would have wanted to bring in during the summer.»
«The club’s policy is such that the coach has no influence on scouting and squad composition. That’s not a suitable environment for me, and I knew we couldn’t stay together long-term,» Riera added, further criticizing Eintracht.
Albert Riera Praises Relationship with Markus Krösche
Despite his criticisms, he emphasized that his relationship with sporting director Markus Krösche remained good. «Speaking poorly of someone in football doesn’t bring much good. I can only speak with measured words about the sporting director who brought me here,» Riera said. «We worked well together, and even our last conversation during the separation was positive. He valued my work and my way of thinking and expressed his conviction that I will coach great clubs in the future.»
«However, I am simply not someone who can change club policies. The reality is that Frankfurt is a club that sells more than it buys. I accepted this situation and understood that I wouldn’t be able to bring in the players I wished for.»
He indirectly criticized the squad, stating, «It’s not about Frankfurt having bad players, not at all. But in this team, there isn’t a single footballer I would take with me to my next project. There are more players in Celje that I would like to have in my next club than at Eintracht.»