2023-12-10 04:30:00
How quickly everything can change in football has been evident for some time, especially in Hartberg. From a candidate for relegation in the spring to a sensational team in the Bundesliga, from one of the oldest squads to a young and hungry team with a lot of talent. But not only has a lot changed in terms of play in Eastern Styria, completely different players than a year ago also set the tone in the dressing room and on the pitch.
One of them is captain Jürgen Heil, who has to take a break today after his yellow-red card against Klagenfurt. Behind them, goalkeeper Raphael Sallinger and veteran Tobias Kainz are part of the “new” leadership triangle, the successors to Rene Swete, Dario Tadic and Thomas Rotter. Sallinger himself has already led his team onto the field as captain once this season; in the 1-0 home win against Rapid almost exactly a month ago, he replaced the yellow-suspended Heil. “Even before that, the three of us were always players who took the reins and spoke up about things. Now we are even more experienced, have more match practice and have just moved up in the rankings,” says the TSV goalkeeper.
His role as a leader is an example of the Carinthian’s development. Still number two a year ago, Sallinger is now one of the best of his profession in the league. “Of course you are more credible in a leadership role if you deliver your performance, so I’m happy that I’m able to do that.” Even though the leadership in the dressing room has changed with the upheaval in the summer, one thing remains the same: “The Hartberg smell “, as Sallinger calls it. “That spirit is still there when you walk into the locker room and that’s important. We are a small club and have a very special cabin. We can only be successful as a team.” Today against the WAC, Tobias Kainz will take over the captain’s armband and will probably replace Heil as right-back. Michael Steinwender will probably move into central defense for the ailing Ibane Bowat.
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