“The LASK comes back with greater self-confidence. After the coaching change, the form curve is pointing upwards and the results speak for themselves, ”said Jaissle in view of the latest results. Since Andreas Wieland took over from Dominik Thalhammer, the Linzers have won three wins and two draws in five compulsory games and are once again committed to their “old” game philosophy. “They are much better in terms of sport and generally have a lot of quality. That’s why we have to step on the gas again and build on our last performance, ”said Jaissle.
Midfielder Nicolas Seiwald saw it similarly. “LASK is in good shape, an unpleasant opponent. Lately they have been scoring regularly, so we have to be focused to win. But we are ready for that, ”said one of the big winners of this season. Seiwald already had numerous short appearances in the spring, but now it is impossible to imagine Jaissle’s starting line-up without him. Franco Foda brought the 20-year-old into the ÖFB team for the first time, at least on call. “That makes me proud,” emphasized the man from Kuchl.
After successes like in the Champions League, it is no problem to flip the switch for the domestic lowlands. “It’s not that difficult for us because we are a young group that is always hungry for more,” said Seiwald. Nor did Jaissle see any problems here. “There is no tendency to foresee that there will be difficulties,” said the coach, who is still unbeaten in 15 compulsory games (14 wins). And: “I don’t know if there is too much healthy self-confidence.”
Admiral Bundesliga, tenth round
Sunday, 5 p.m .:
Salzburg – LASK
Wals-Siezenheim, Red Bull Arena, SR Lechner
Possible setups:
Salzburg: Köhn – Kristensen, Wöber, Onguene, Ulmer – Capaldo, Camara, Aaronson, Seiwald – Sesko, Adeyemi
LASK: Schlager – Maresic, Filipovic, Luckeneder – Potzmann, Holland, Michorl, Renner – Goiginger, Schmidt, Horvath
Sobering LASK record against Salzburg
The LASK’s recent record against the overwhelming power from Wals-Siezenheim is sobering. In eight competitive games including two cup matches (semi-finals 2020 and final 2021) there were just as many defeats (goal difference 5:21). The last victory, a 3-2 win in Wals-Siezenheim, dates back to February 2020. “The starting position is very logical: We are not the favorites now,” said Wieland succinctly with regard to the trip to the Red Bull Arena.
After all, Wieland seems to be able to regain self-confidence in the lurching LASK kickers. “Good actions in pressing, ball wins, we can play out chances – that gives you a boost, you notice that the system is working and that everything we do has a plan,” said offensive actor Thomas Goiginger about the current situation in the middle of the week. In the table, they climbed back to sixth place from the very back, but still only have two points ahead of the red lantern.
The 1-1 draw in the Conference League against Maccabi Tel Aviv felt like a lost victory for Linz on Thursday, but it will not be easier on Sunday. In any case, it is “an extremely exciting challenge where we can take the next step again, where we can work on our game, where we will try to get everything out of it again,” emphasized Wieland.
