Before the start of the Bundesliga – all the answers to champions Salzburg
For the coaches of the Austrian Bundesliga teams there is little or no doubt who WILL end the season, which begins on Friday, as champions. Defending champion Red Bull Salzburg was once again the big favorite in the APA survey by the supervisors, and runner-up Sturm Graz was gold as the biggest challenger. The coaches don’t have a hot tip as to who could slip into the role of the surprise team this time.
There is agreement on the master question. “It’s obvious that Salzburg can only beat itself. You’re a Croesus in Austria who can hardly be reached,” said Sturm supervisor Christian Ilzer. Austria coach Manfred Schmid thinks the chances of the “bulls” winning another title are “very, very high. You need a perfect season to have a chance against Salzburg,” said the Viennese.
WAC coach Robin Dutt sees the possibility of Salzburg failing in the league at zero percent, WSG supervisor Thomas Silberberger at zero to five percent. Rapids Ferdinand Feldhofer described the series champion as a “big hunted and absolute top favourite”. Austria Klagenfurt’s Peter Pacult, like Dietmar Kühbauer (LASK), Miroslav Klose (Altach), Christian Heinle (Ried), Klaus Schmidt (Hartberg) and Markus Mader (Austria Lustenau) assumes that Andreas Ulmer and Co. will successfully defend their title.
Salzburg coach Matthias Jaissle said they wanted to perform all year round again. The toughest opponents are the German Sturm, Rapid, Austria and finally the WAC. Jaissle has not yet identified a possible surprise team. “I’m excited to see who it will be this year.”
Also still undecided in this matter are Dutt, Feldhofer, Silberberger, Kühbauer, Klose, Schmidt and Mader. Ilzer speculates in this matter with the WSG Tirol, Schmid with Austria Lustenau and Ried. Heinle assumes that the first six places will be occupied by Salzburg, Rapid, Austria, Sturm, LASK and WAC. “But if one of them weakens, everyone will try to be there.”
Pacult strongly assumes that Salzburg, Rapid, Austria, Sturm and LASK will be in the master group. “The rest play for places six to twelve,” speculated the Viennese, who had surprisingly reached the upper play-off with Klagenfurt Austria in the previous season. Before that, St. Pölten, Hartberg and WSG Tirol underdogs succeeded.