Salzburg wants to “pick up where we left off in the fall”
After the strong autumn season, things are now getting serious again for Red Bull Salzburg. On Sunday, the Jaissle-Elf will meet LASK in the quarter-finals of the cup.
Salzburg will also cheer against LASK.
APA/KRUGFPHOTO
Red Bull Salzburg started spring on Sunday with the ÖFB Cup quarter-finals against LASK. The series champion will underline his dominance in the cup and win the 22nd match win in a row in a repeat of last year’s final. Salzburg have always progressed against Linz in the cup in three attempts, in the fight for the title on May 1, 2021 in Klagenfurt there was a clear 3-0.
“LASK is an unpleasant opponent who has always shown the quality they have in the games against us, but we are good things because the preparation was very good. We want to pick up where we left off in the fall”, Said Salzburg coach Matthias Jaissle. His team is already 14 points ahead of the competitor in the league after 18 rounds, before the winter break there were three competitive wins in a row, including a 1-0 win over Sevilla FC in the fight for the Champions League round of 16.
Salzburg keeps squads together
There was no bloodletting in the winter, Jaissle can also build on his successful squad. “They have done very well in the last few months, I am pleased that the group has stayed together,” said the German. Due to the successes in autumn, this time it was a little easier, as sporting director Christoph Freund remarked: “Because we were very successful, we had very good arguments.
One of them is top striker Karim Adeyemi, who is associated with a summer transfer to Borussia Dortmund. The 18-time competitive goal scorer in autumn will probably miss the weekend due to tonsillitis. Another striker, Junior Adamu, who injured his right knee in training, is also questionable. Fixed are the absences of Bernardo, Zlatko Junuzovic, Sekou Koita, Bryan Okoh, Jerome Onguene playing at the Africa Cup and Nicolas Seiwald.
The latter was set for the eight-time cup winner in the fall. “He played an outstanding autumn season, was a leader, but we don’t complain too much. We have a broad squad and will be able to absorb it,” Salzburg’s coach was certain. One or the other player played the focus in the preparation. Jaissle did not want to name names on Friday. Mohamed Camara, who has been training in Salzburg since Thursday after losing out with Mali at the Africa Cup, could also play in midfield. “He looks fresh, I’m considering bringing him on Sunday,” said Jaissle.
This also applies to offensive ace Brenden Aaronson, who skipped Friday training after returning from the USA international tour to sleep in. Petar Filipovic, Oumar Sako and Philipp Wiesinger are missing from the tenth-placed Linzers. The squad was changed in some positions during the current winter transfer period. However, the Salzburgers did not expect a different playing system. “They have a similar style of play as we do. It’s going to be a game that’s very open from both sides,” Jaissle surmised. His eleven should therefore not afford anything and must be at 100 percent immediately.
LASK looks back on good preparation
According to their coach, the people of Linz have had “good and intensive” preparation. “The starting point is clear: we’re playing against a Champions League round of 16 team and traveling to Salzburg as the underdog,” said Andreas Wieland. His troupe can therefore only play 2,000 spectators – 200 of whom travel from Linz – free before the Corona restrictions. “We want to make life difficult for Salzburg,” promises the 38-year-old confidently.
The athletes are represented in the quarter-finals for the fourth time in a row, and in 2020 and 2021 they always managed to get promoted. In the current competition, LASK had to knock out a Bundesliga team with WSG Tirol (round of 16/2:1), Salzburg’s toughest opponent was second division SKN St. Pölten (3:0). The only duel in the league so far this season ended with a 3-1 home win for Salzburg, which was victory number seven against Linz in a row.