Adi Hütter reacts to Younes Ebnoutalib’s inclusion and Jonathan Burkardt’s exclusion from Germany squad

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Eintracht Frankfurt head coach Adi Hütter has expressed mixed feelings about Jürgen Klopp’s latest Germany national-team selection. While striker Younes Ebnoutalib has retained his place in the 24-man squad for November’s Nations League fixtures against Serbia and the Netherlands, fellow Frankfurt forward Jonathan Burkardt and goalkeeper Noah Atubolu have missed out.

Speaking at his Thursday pre-match press conference, Hütter praised Ebnoutalib’s remarkable development while acknowledging the disappointment experienced by Burkardt. The Austrian also discussed the difficult selection decisions facing Klopp following the Bundestrainer’s decision to reduce his previous 44-man squad to just 24 players.

Ebnoutalib is one of five players who made their senior Germany debuts during the previous international window and have retained their places.

Hütter praises Ebnoutalib’s rapid development

Ebnoutalib’s progression has been among the more remarkable stories in German football over the past two years. Having played Regionalliga football with FC Gießen as recently as early 2025, the Frankfurt-born attacker subsequently established himself at SV Elversberg before securing a January 2026 transfer to his hometown Bundesliga club.

The youngster scored on his Bundesliga debut against Borussia Dortmund, although an injury shortly afterward interrupted his first months at Eintracht Frankfurt. Ebnoutalib returned strongly during the summer, impressing Hütter during preseason before scoring a hat-trick in Frankfurt’s opening Bundesliga encounter against Union Berlin.

His early-season form subsequently earned him a place in Klopp’s first Germany squad. In Get German Football News’ extensive feature on Ebnoutalib’s first national-team call-up, the youngster revealed that he had been moved to tears following a personal telephone conversation with the Bundestrainer.

Hütter now acknowledges that even he has been surprised by the speed of Ebnoutalib’s progress.

“We noticed in summer training camp, the Pokal, and [the opening Bundesliga match against Union Berlin] what he’s capable of,” Hütter said of Ebnoutalib at his Thursday pre-match press conference. “I myself, in all honesty, am surprised by the pace of his development. Of course, I’m in a comfortable place with two strikers who regularly score goals. It’s important that Younes remains grounded. He does that and shows that every day in training.”

The two strikers have frequently provided Hütter with difficult selection decisions. As previously documented in GGFN‘s analysis of Frankfurt’s tactical changes, the Austrian’s decision to switch to a back-three system in September required him to sacrifice one attacker. Ebnoutalib consequently made way for Burkardt in the starting lineup against Mainz despite having already registered four Bundesliga goals and an assist.

Nevertheless, both players have continued to demonstrate their value to the Frankfurt attack. Ebnoutalib most recently scored the decisive third goal in Frankfurt’s 3-1 Bundesliga victory over Hamburger SV, benefiting from Can Uzun’s excellent midfield ball recovery and subsequent through ball.

Hütter disappointed by Burkardt omission

While Hütter welcomes Ebnoutalib’s continued involvement with Germany, the Frankfurt trainer is less pleased that Burkardt has been excluded. The 25-year-old has enjoyed a productive start to the Bundesliga campaign after overcoming the injury problems that disrupted his previous season.

Burkardt’s importance to Frankfurt was already evident during preseason. The former Mainz striker appeared particularly well suited to Hütter’s attacking approach, combining intelligent pressing and movement with reliable finishing. Burkardt also featured in Klopp’s first Germany squad, although his international opportunities proved less rewarding.

In GGFN‘s assessment of Germany’s opening Nations League performances, the striker received a C- grade after struggling to influence the defeat against Greece during a brief substitute appearance. Hütter revealed that he had already spoken with Burkardt following Thursday’s announcement.

“Of course I’m happy that Younes has been nominated,” Hütter continued. “On the other hand, I think it’s a shame that Johnny’s not there. Of course, that’s not part of my area of competency. I have no influence over that. I spoke with Johnny earlier today and, of course, it’s normal to react with disappointment when one is not selected. But I don’t have the impression that Johnny is hanging his head.”

The omission comes despite Burkardt continuing to compete with Ebnoutalib for a starting place in Frankfurt’s attack. Klopp has instead selected Ebnoutalib, returning Werder Bremen striker Niclas Füllkrug, and Arsenal’s Kai Havertz as his three nominal forwards for the upcoming internationals.

Noah Atubolu also misses out

Frankfurt goalkeeper Noah Atubolu is another player who has failed to retain his place following Klopp’s initial 44-man selection. The 24-year-old, who joined Eintracht from SC Freiburg during the summer, was included in the second group of players assembled for Germany’s previous international window.

Atubolu has nevertheless continued to produce encouraging performances at club level. The goalkeeper played an important role in Frankfurt’s September draw against his former club Freiburg and subsequently contributed several decisive saves during the recent Bundesliga victory over Hamburg.

Klopp has opted for Marc-André ter Stegen, Alexander Nübel, and Jonas Urbig as his three goalkeepers for November. Hütter acknowledged that the reduction in squad size was always likely to leave some of his players disappointed.

“I haven’t spoken with Noah [Atubolu] yet,” Hütter concluded. “But the lads can obviously put two and two together. From an XXL squad nominated [for the last international break] to the next two Nations League fixtures [in November], things will obviously look different. Some are happy, some aren’t.”

GGFN | Peter Weis