For WAC trainer Manfred Schmid, however, the starting position is irrelevant. “There is no focus on a place in the table. Our thought remains that we don’t want to have anything to do with the bottom,” emphasized the former coach of Wiener Austria. With the Styrians, an opponent is now waiting who can also play something.
After the 2-2 win against Altach and a 2-0 deficit, the Hartbergers travel to Lavanttal with a “very good feeling”. “We’re going to Wolfsberg full of courage because we believe that we can cause problems for everyone,” said TSV coach Markus Schopp. The route is clear seven laps before the end of the season: “We want to win. I assume that Manfred has the same idea.” Schmid agreed and emphasized: “We both know that two very good teams meet.”
Qualifying group, 26th round
Friday, 7.30 p.m.:
WAC – Hartberg
Wolfsberg, Lavanttal Arena, SR Jäger
Possible lineups:
WAC: Bonmann – Veratschnig, Bukusu, Piesinger, Oermann, Scherzer – Kerschbaumer, Omic, Taferner – Baribo, Malone
Hartberg: Sallinger – Kainz, Rotter, Karamarko, Pfeifer – Heil, Diakite – Frieser, Sangare, Avdijaj – Providence
Hartberg sealed the end of Dutt
The East Styrians won the last direct duel 2-1, it was the last game of the then WAC coach Robin Dutt. Under his successor Schmid, the Wolfsbergers started with two wins from three games in the qualifying group, most recently a 3-1 win against leaders Austria Lustenau after a 0-1 deficit.
“We played a very good game and finally got our reward. That was an exclamation mark and a great sense of achievement. Now it’s about confirming that,” said Schmid, who still has to do without Dominik Baumgartner. The centre-back trained with the team for the first time on Thursday after suffering a hamstring injury.
Schopp gives WAC the role of favorites
Schopp paid tribute to his counterpart, but didn’t want to sell himself too cheaply. “In terms of the package, the WAC is a big story. We don’t need to hide, but we’re also playing against an opponent who has planned to be in the championship group,” stressed Schopp. The WAC has a high individual quality in many positions and is an extremely good opponent. But: “We know what to expect. We are ready.”
In his tenth game since returning to the Hartberg coaching bench, the 49-year-old hopes to win the third point in a row. The development of his eleven is “interesting and good”, even if other things are currently important. “Philosophy or not, in the end it’s all about points,” said Schopp.
