Football: For Eintracht's women, only victory counts in mini-tournament

Eintracht Frankfurt's women's team faces immense pressure as they begin their competitive season this week with a crucial Champions League qualifying mini-tournament. As the sole Bundesliga representative in this round, the team, led by head coach Niko Arnautis, must secure a victory to progress to the final qualification phase for the prestigious Champions League.

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We want to establish ourselves on an international level.

The team is navigating a period of significant transition, having seen ten players depart, including key figures like German internationals Nicole Anyomi and Elisa Senß, and Swiss player Géraldine Reuteler. In response, Eintracht has brought in five new signings, including Bundesliga top scorer Larissa Mühlhaus and former Juventus player Paulina Krumbiegel, alongside international talents Danique Tolhoek, Jamilla Rankin, and Hanna Bennison.

Sporting director Babett Peter has set the goal for the team to "establish itself on an international level." This marks the fifth consecutive season Eintracht has qualified for European competition, though they have only reached the group stage once. To bolster their chances and potential financial gains, the club secured hosting rights for this mini-tournament at their home stadium, Stadion am Brentanobad.

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It is not so easy to get material on the team. But in the end, it's about what we do on the field ourselves.

Their first challenge on Wednesday is a semi-final match against AC Omonia Nicosia from Cyprus, a team making its debut at this level. Arnautis acknowledged the difficulty in scouting the opponent but emphasized focusing on their own performance. Should they advance, Eintracht would face the winner of the match between Norway's Valerenga IF and Sweden's Malmö FF in the final on Saturday. Arnautis expressed confidence that the team, despite still being in preparation, will be ready to win these matches, even as the domestic league season doesn't commence until August 21st.

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But we should be ready to win these games.