2023-07-29 21:20:49
At the end of the opening round in the Bundesliga, Wiener Austria welcomes cup winner Sturm Graz on Sunday (5:00 p.m.). While the violets want to look towards the top 3 this year, the Styrians are the number one challenger for champions Salzburg. The duel on Sunday is therefore more than just a location determination for both teams. “We’re well prepared for a real top game. We have to be on point from the first game,” said Sturm coach Christian Ilzer.
In order to get in the mood for the coming English weeks, the Grazers played a friendly in Strasbourg on Wednesday (0:3), where Hierländer and Co. were shown the current limits. “A game like that carries more weight than any word I say,” said Ilzer, who was not dissatisfied. The 45-year-old can draw on plenty of personnel in Vienna, especially on the offensive the competition is enormous. And this is supposed to intensify, as the Blackys are looking for a successor to Emanuel Emegha.
Jakob Jantscher, of all people, who was the best player in the league two years ago, is now turning out to be a case of hardship. In the future, the 34-year-old will find himself more off the field rather than on the pitch and instead act primarily as a mentor for the young players and as a joker. “Jakob will have an important role in the dressing room and he’s always an option as a player, even if he’s less likely to start,” explained Ilzer.
Sports director Andreas Schicker and he had good discussions with Jantscher. “We communicated honestly with him and we are convinced that he will not let up under any circumstances – also in his verbal and mental function,” reported the coach, adding: “His reaction showed that he thinks in the interests of Sturm Graz. He’s a legend from a young age.”
At the start of the league, the Styrians want to prove their championship ambitions. “On Sunday it is important to be as close as possible to the limit again,” said Ilzer. The coach has respect for his former club. “Austria have taken a step forward. We’re up against a highly attractive opponent who will be a real benchmark. I think they’re capable of the top three.”
The favorites, who were left behind in all four league duels with Sturm in the previous season, also hope so. That should now be corrected in round 1. “I think we’ve done our homework. We have a team that has been strengthened very well, we’re now broader again. We got two players back in (Muharem, note) Huskovic and (Lucas, note) Galvao , which the coach has never seen play. That gives me a positive feeling for the fall,” said sporting director Jürgen Werner.
Austria is already in the middle of the English weeks. After winning the European Cup (1-0 against Banja Luka), coach Michael Wimmer’s team went to work with a sense of achievement in front of the home fans. Winger Reinhold Ranftl didn’t want to overestimate that. “Sunday will be a completely different game, Sturm play completely different football. We have to make better use of the chances we get.”
Wimmer agrees: “Sturm has a high intensity, so we have to counteract it intensively. It will be a huge challenge. But we have a home game and want to do everything we can to get the season off to a good start.”
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