Red Bull Salzburg before the million dollar game: cops now want cold and rain
External conditions like those against Hartberg would come in very handy for the sports director of Red Bull Salzburg, Christoph Freund.
At least from the external conditions, the football professionals from Red Bull Salzburg got a foretaste of what they can expect in the “final” of the Champions League against Sevilla FC on Saturday against Hartberg in a hard-fought 2-1. Continuous rain at a temperature around freezing point, plus gusts of wind and a bleak backdrop without spectators in the stadium: Whether this Saturday the cops are more comfortable on Wednesday than the Spaniards, who win the dress rehearsal in the league against Villarreal 1-0 at a pleasant 15 degrees ?
Salzburg’s sporting director Christoph Freund gave the answer to this question: He wished for a cold December evening for the last and group game for promotion to the second round of the premier class, plus light rain. Conditions Seville probably wouldn’t be comfortable in. But that’s just gray theory. Seville comes to Salzburg in top shape and is in second place in the table. This already shows the caliber the cops will hit on Wednesday. But a draw is enough for coach Matthias Jaissle’s troops to create the really big coup.
And maybe the course of the game against Hartberg will unleash additional strength for Andreas Ulmer and Co. Because the series champion staggered like a battered boxer on the ropes for a long time. The Jaissle troop can hardly find a means to embarrass the Hartberger defensive. After the early 0: 1, it was the only shot on goal by the Styrians, the Salzburgers showed, but a lot of morale and then ultimately were rewarded for dying. Two goals in the closing stages should also give courage for the game against Sevilla. Of course, the opponent in the league was only Hartberg, but a late sense of achievement can move mountains, at least in theory.
But the cops will show a different face than against Hartberg when. “I was particularly pleased with the team’s morale,” said Jaissle. However, the coach also knew that on Wednesday in Wals-Siezenheim against FC Sevilla
The German emphasized that his troops took “a lot of positive things” with them for the duel with Seville: “The boys were rewarded for their effort.” Nevertheless, the Salzburg team seemed far removed from their form at the beginning of the season. “We have to radiate more danger, play the right passes and make it 1-0 once with a big chance. And we have to improve in the last third,” emphasized Jaissle. Despite the obvious need for improvement, confidence outweighs the 33-year-old’s confidence before the game against the runners-up from Spain. “This victory can give us wings. We will definitely find more spaces against Sevilla, that suits our game.” At least in theory.