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“Not only we were promoted, but also in this way that inspires me and many others: I am very proud of that and I am very grateful to the players, the technical team, the staff and the board,” said coach Ferdinand Feldhofer about the sensational coup. which, however, had been announced with selective results. A year ago, the “Wolves” celebrated a 4-0 win at top German club Borussia Mönchengladbach, but were the last to be eliminated on their group stage debut.
A year later, the WAC doubled the points performance (to ten) and took second place against undefeated team Rotterdam and behind group champion Dinamo Zagreb. “It was absolutely deserved. We beat Feyenoord twice, not many teams achieve that, ”said captain Michael Liendl, who, like his coach, praised the solidarity within the club. “Maybe not everyone thought we could do that, but we always believed we could do it. Everyone is happy to be there, we are an outstanding group, ”said the 35-year-old.
Europa League: WAC creates promotion
On Thursday, Wolfsberger AC reached the knockout stage of the European Cup for the first time in the history of his club.
The winter in the European Cup is undoubtedly the biggest success in the club’s history, which has played in the Bundesliga since 2013 and cannot look back on an upper house championship or a cup win. On the other hand, it is only the fourth national club to reach the 16th final of the Europa League, which was presented in 2009 as the successor to the UEFA Cup. Previously, only Salzburg (six times), Rapid (twice) and LASK (once) made it. In this sense, the WAC is somewhat ahead of Austria Wien and Sturm Graz, who failed in four and two attempts respectively.
Wolfsberger Weg is worth it
The climax of the career of many protagonists (Feldhofer: “There is nothing above this event”) had to be held in the empty stadium. The players did not miss any opportunity to express their joy. The press conference was interrupted by the rest of the team to allow them to achieve what they had achieved “This is Wolfsberger AC, no one has seen it on the football map so far, it is really a great cinema to experience. It is extraordinary and never before. I had seen this way, “said veteran Liendl, who was once abroad (including Munich 1860) earned his money.
Following his return and the return of coach Christian Ilzer in the summer of 2018, the successful change came in the then ninth of the Bundesliga. Third place in 2019 was not a flash in the pan, but it was confirmed by others in 2020. Gerhard Struber, who was pulled away from the English Championship Club Barnsley a year ago, and Feldhofer, who was promoted from second division Lafnitz, continued with the successful work. With a mix of local and veteran talents, as well as high-performing legionnaires, the WAC as a unit created this surprise, also because the idea of a game is recognizable.
This was especially proven in the decisive match against Feyenoord, in which a draw would have been enough for promotion. “We wanted to attack hard from the beginning and not play at one point because we know the qualities that Feyenoord has. We wanted to play our game, we were there from minute one and we never had the feeling we could screw it up. That was also a mental quality, ”commended director Liendl to his colleagues.
Advocaat turns out to be a fair loser
Feyenoord coach Dick Advocaat, a household name in the football business, also showed respect to his opponents. “The WAC was really good in indoor duels, they acted with a lot of fighting power, so we had big problems and it was very difficult. That was already the case in Rotterdam and again today. The WAC played simple football and did very well. You have to congratulate your opponents, they deserved to win, “said the former head of the Dutch team.
Klagenfurt’s battered turf played remarkably with the locals on the cards. “In a normal field, Feyenoord is usually better than WAC, we had big problems playing football,” said the 73-year-old traveler. But Carinthians also found an answer to this issue that night. “1 sovereign in a prominent place, once 1-0 in a field. In the end, that is also quality,” said Liendl, and summed up the duel with the Dutch with air of sufficiency.
A prominent opponent awaits in the sixteenth final
For Feyenoord this season’s European Cup is history, for Carinthians, who can expect additional income, he continues. On Monday (1:00 pm) the “wolves” will look with enthusiasm at Nyon, where the draw for the round of 32 will take place. WAC is not second in the group and will face a group winner in the Europa League (with the exception of Dinamo Zagreb) or one of the four best group thirds in the Champions League.
Possible opponents are: Bayer Leverkusen, TSG Hoffenheim (both GER), AS Roma, AC Milan, SSC Napoli (all ITA), Arsenal, Leicester City, Manchester United (all ENG), Ajax Amsterdam, PSV Eindhoven (both NED), Villarreal (ESP), Glasgow Rangers (SCO), Club Brugge (BEL) or Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR).
“No one can take that away from you”
“I do not care. Whoever comes, there will be special matches, “said Liendl, who only wants to have spectators in the stadium again for the home game on February 18 (return: February 25). Feldhofer also allows the draw to come. Big names from the group’s opponents. But I haven’t thought about it yet, it’s a very nice feeling now. “
It’s already clear to Liendl that regardless of the outcome of the 16th final, this season will be unforgettable: “No one can take that away from you, and in ten or fifteen years we will continue to look back at this incredible group and how we do it brilliantly. have dominated for football Austria “.
