Max Wöber promises “the right Salzburg again” for 2023
Ultimately, FC Red Bull Salzburg can look back on an extremely successful autumn.
In the Champions League, the Mozart city-dwellers were able to prove themselves against absolute world-class teams and achieved the goal of the Europa League for the season, in the ÖFB-Cup they reached the round of 16 without any problems and in the Admiral Bundesliga they are already ahead of their pursuers Sturm Graz after 16 rounds six counters.
Nevertheless, critical voices have recently been raised that Salzburg would no longer play as attractively as in the past and would only put more result football on the pitch.
At least in the championship, this criticism is not too far-fetched after recent playful performances; also in the very last game of the year, in a 1-0 win against Austria Klagenfurt (Game report>>>), the “bulls” couldn’t exactly shine.
Wöber: “In 2023 you will experience the real Salzburg again”
For temporary captain Max Wöber, that’s not a big problem because the results are right: “We’re definitely on track. We’re top of the table and made a good impression in the Champions League. Are still in the cup. In any case, we have pursued our goals of becoming champions and cup winners very well.”
However, the Viennese also admit that there was a lot of room for improvement with the Mozart city-dwellers. He vows to improve: “We’ll come back even stronger after the winter break. Then you’ll experience the real Salzburg again.”
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The “real Salzburg” has only rarely been seen by the Mozartstadt supporters recently, since the very young kickers of the series champion have the most intense autumn of their careers behind them, which cost them almost all their strength.
The “Bulls” have been able to play 17 games at club level since the beginning of September, and many Mozartstadt players have also played internationals. This exceptional schedule, due to the World Cup in Qatar starting in eight days, sapped the fitness of Salzburg and resulted in numerous surprises.
Jaissle takes off his hat to his team in cabin language
This made it difficult for Matthias Jaissle to take large rotation measures, which explains the many injuries – a vicious circle.
After the party in Klagenfurt, Jaissle, who had hardly had any free time in the past few weeks, appeared relaxed. He praises his team in cabin language:
“We have the same number of points as last season at this point (39, NB). Last year we were praised to the skies for having had a sensational autumn season and I have now said that to the team, “It was the same this year. In the Champions League we secured third place in a group with really world-class teams. So I’m very happy with the autumn,” said the German.
Autumn in retrospect “already very strong”
Jaissle himself will also have to admit that there has recently been little to see in terms of the often touted Red Bull power football.
He admits: “It’s not all going 100% yet. That’s completely normal. It’s always a process and a development in such a young team. But if you look back on this autumn, then it’s really strong.”
At the appearance in Klagenfurt at the end of the year, his team put in a performance “that wasn’t at the highest level in terms of play, but we’re very happy with the points”.
Austria from Wörthersee “defended in a very disciplined manner”. Jaissle takes his hat off to Peter Pacult: “It’s a big compliment that my coaching colleague always manages to set the team up this way.”
Austria Klagenfurt now three months above the line
Pacult continues this praise directly to his team: “The team did very well today. They implemented what we had planned before the game. I can’t blame them today, quite the opposite. We played each other today sold very well here against the sovereign leader of the table.”
With 21 points, the Waidmannsdorfers are in a strong sixth place in the table – and they will not be displaced for at least three months.
“We’re staying above the line and when you look at the table for three months now and you’re sixth in your second year, that’s very gratifying,” said Pacult, saying goodbye happily into the winter break.