“I was surprised at the club’s about-face.”

In an interview with the Kronen Zeitung in his native Austria, Frankfurt defender Martin Hinteregger has suggested that the SGE tried to push him out the door. 

It continues to look as if Martin Hinteregger will remain in Germany’s commercial capital next season. Despite some reports to the contrary, German journalists with insider contacts claim that the “cult” Austrian defender has already had a sit down with both management and the coaching staff. Sport Bild and others report that the consensus decision holds that all parties should continue to work together.

Both coaching staff and amazement will nevertheless find themselves cringing at a recent interview Hinteregger conducted with the populist tabloid Kronen Zeitung in his native country. In the published interview, the 29-year-old claims that he was told in no uncertain terms that he should plan his future elsewhere.

“A lot has fallen apart this year,” Hinteregger said when asked about several of his form dips that led Oliver Glasner to bench him at times, “I was told in late autumn and between the quarterfinal games against Barcelona that I should leave in the summer.”

Hinteregger was also quick to point out that his stay had been confirmed and that he looked forward to the coming season.

“I was surprised at the club’s about-face that I should stay after all,” he said, “I certainly don’t want to miss out on the Champions League with these fans!”

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