The envisaged goal was only briefly discussed the day before the game in the alternative quarters in Klagenfurt’s Wörthersee Stadium. LASK is not only plagued by injury concerns, the athletes are also not let go of the coronavirus. With Lukas Grgic and Mamoudou Karamoko, two more professionals tested positive on Tuesday. There are now a total of five actors who have given a positive test. Florian Flecker was able to free himself up for Thursday.
“The starting point is clear: with a good result, we want to take a step towards the knockout phase. That is the great motivation and a clear goal, ”said coach Andreas Wieland. He has 16 players against Armenia’s champions, three of whom are goalkeepers.
LASK receives Alaschkert
LASK wants to lay the foundation for promotion to the knockout phase on Thursday on the fourth match day of the UEFA Europa Conference League against the Armenian club Alaschkert. The last of the domestic league is currently not only struggling with major problems in terms of sport.
Especially in the defensive department, the staff cover is more than thin. James Holland (Wade) was injured at the beginning of the week, Jan Boller is absent due to a suspension.
Only 13 field players left in the squad
The long injured Yannis Letard is immediately thrown into the deep end. As Wieland also noted: If more field players are needed due to injuries, a goalkeeper should also be substituted. With the third keeper Nikolas Polster (19), a man with a good surname is available in an emergency.
Fourth matchday
Thursday, 6.45 p.m .:
LASK – Alaschkert
Klagenfurt, Wörthersee Stadium, SR Hakim / SWE
Possible setups:
LASK: Schlager – Flecker, Letard, Luckeneder, Potzmann – Goiginger, Hong, Michorl, Renner – Monschein, Nakamura
Alaschkert: Cancarevic – Kryuchkov, Cameta, Kadio, Boljevic – Khurtsidze, Grigoryan, Hovsepyan – James, Embalo, Papikyan
LASK won 3-0 two weeks ago in Yerevan. The athletes increased in the second half of the game. The fact that there were then again low blows in the league should not slow down the international vigor. “We can look ahead positively when we look at the performances in the games. They are appealing, ”emphasized Peter Michorl.
Exploitation of opportunities as a tiresome topic
The midfielder once again emphasized the main problem of his team: the exploitation of chances. “We have to try to do what we can in between.” LASK scored six goals in the three group games. In the Bundesliga there are twelve in 13 rounds.
A win against Alaschkert would also be important in a duel with Maccabi. Because the eight group winners in the Conference League are in the round of 16. The respective runners-up must play in a knockout round next February against the third of the Europa League in order to get a place in the round of the best 16.
Michorl emphasized that they wanted to achieve the “turnaround” in every game. The game against WSG Tirol at the weekend is already a little in focus.
Linz – Klagenfurt – Linz by plane
The trip to Klagenfurt is therefore made by charter flight. On match day, the plane takes off from Linz-Hörsching in the morning. The team and supervisors will then be picked up by the team bus at Klagenfurt Airport, and the return flight will take place on match day.
Wieland showed understanding of any criticism of the approach, which was unusual in times of climate policy. However, the shorter travel time is an important advantage right now. “I can understand the discussion about it, the environmental issue is a very big one. But I think that in our current situation it is necessary that we can gather all our strengths and regenerate well. That’s why the decision was made that way, ”said the 38-year-old.
