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Some were too sure of that. The fact that Rapid played away against Belgian runners-up Gent on Wednesday night cannot change that. The green-and-white dream of the Champions League soon exploded with a truly avoidable bankruptcy. Hütteldorfer then correctly analyzed the 1: 2 against flamenco in the third qualifying round as a painful knockdown. “You have to say we were the best team,” captain Dejan Ljubicic said.
But you can’t buy anything in football. Coach Dietmar Kühbauer saw things in a similar way. “I think we were the best team, but that doesn’t mean you have to be promoted automatically,” said the coach. “The evaluation of the opportunities did not work well. Otherwise, I cannot blame my team.” However, Rapid made too many mistakes in the intense encounter. With 0: 1 – a header from Niklas Dorsch (minute 36) – the Viennese baseline team simply fell into a deep collective sleep. And before the 0: 2 – a penalty happily converted by Roman Yaremtschuk (59th) – Leo Greiml launched an unnecessary attack on the opponent.
Kühbauer: “Ghent didn’t really exist at the front”
Rapid now has the account: nothing came of the third Champions League appearance after 1996/97 and 2005/06. But at least: Rapid goes to the previously fixed group stage of the Europa League and takes three million euros to buy. But nothing more, since now it is a question of surviving well to the group stage. The draw will take place on October 2, the opening round is scheduled for October 22. But statistically it gets a bit complicated. In seven main round appearances so far, promotion has only been achieved twice. For Ljubicic, the matter is marked: “Every player wants to play in the Champions League one day. But we put everything into it, so we can’t blame ourselves and at least have the Europa League now,” he said.
Last year’s Belgian runner-up looked beatable. After a poor start to the season (four defeats in five games) and a manager change the day before the game, Gent clearly looked for security and coordination at the beginning. After six minutes, Rapid knocked on the door three times. Above all, Kühbauer lost precision and determination. “If he scores two or three goals, Ghent can do whatever they want,” said the Burgenlander, because: “They didn’t really exist up front.”
Then the coach tried to make up for the 0: 2 with a system change. The connecting goal from “Joker” Yusuf Demir (93rd) came too late, Greiml headed the lucky break (95th). Kühbauer: “We are going home now and we know we played a good game, but that doesn’t mean we can buy anything.” Great: the Belgians pocket five million euros to reach the play-offs. Dynamo Kiev awaits in the play-off.(lane / what)
