The coach, who was about to leave his home club, admitted: “We didn’t think we’d be in such a good position after the game.” Midfielder Vesel Demaku saw a “wonderful day”. Austria would probably have taken a less high victory. While the favorites were saying goodbye to the supporters, the WAC players had already disappeared into the cabin. Coach Roman Stary identified a lack of will. “We have to do everything now to create another football miracle.”
3-0 in Hartberg, 3-0 against WAC – Stöger saw the fact that Austria could improve again as an expression of their strengths of character. “We have a lot of guys who don’t know where to play next year. But they stand by the team and the club. This goal, which we can still achieve now, is important to them. That earns me respect, ”remarked the 55-year-old, who was probably surprised himself.
Compact presentation of the “violets”
Stöger reported the great joy that his protégés had broadcast after the final whistle. “But they know that it is not over yet,” he said with a view to the second leg. “But they also know that we won in Hartberg for the first time this season, that we won the even more important game against Wolfsberg for the first time,” added Stöger. The famous “momentum” seems to speak for Austria.
The violets delivered a compact performance in all parts of the team, no player fell off. Outstanding was Marco Djuricin, who not only caused problems for the guests with his goals in the 46th and 72nd minute. The 28-year-old attacker also saw a negative experience as the trigger for the increase. At 2: 3 in Ried on May 21, Austria delighted with a 2-0 lead in the final quarter of an hour.
“Tacheles” was what they said afterwards, said Djuricin. Stöger did not see the debriefing at that time as dramatic. He only showed the team that it was necessary to always go to the limit of performance. “That may have made the team so clear that they see: That’s true, what the old man says now and then.”
Perplexity at the WAC
Stary, on the other hand, was annoyed. After two minutes, Austria was ahead through Manprit Sarkaria’s header. The Wolfsbergers owed an answer for over 90 minutes. “Mentally tired” his team seemed, so Stary. “I had the impression that we weren’t hungry enough.” The 47-year-old, who was also leaving as head coach at the end of the season, practiced optimism. “When you see the game, you have to say the Kas’ is eaten. But a lot has happened in football. “
On Friday, research into the causes of the Wolfsbergers is announced. Offensive, the guests were harmless. Michael Liendl scored the first shot on goal in the 80th minute. In order to still be able to make the turnaround, goals have to be found. The lax attitude annoyed Stary even more. “I talked to their conscience during the break and read the riot act that we cannot present ourselves like that. Then we’ll come out and get a goal, ”he said to make it 2-0 after the break.
Defensively, the WAC was also far from top form. Gustav Henriksson could provide a remedy, but the central defender has not yet received a license from the doctor after his concussion. Mario Leitgeb looked perplexed. The middle field clearer spoke of “mistakes like in kindergarten” in the defense, but giving up is not an option. “Of course we don’t have that much trump card anymore, but more like St. Pölten,” said Leitgeb. St. Pölten is behind in the relegation duel with Austria Klagenfurt after the first leg 0: 4.
