Champions League: Salzburg lacked consistency

“We were not consistent enough in both penalty areas,” said coach Jesse Marsch and deliberately summed up the 2020/21 season of the Salzburg Champions League. The Austrian series champions held out in every match, be it against the defending champions and group winners, Bayern Munich or Atletico Madrid, at least with, sometimes more than that. But in all, the “Bulls” missed too many scoring opportunities and ultimately took too many avoidable hits, as they did before. on the first day of the match in a 2-2 draw against bottom Lok Moscow. Together with Ferencvaros, Salzburg scored the most goals (17).

The match against Atlético was a reflection of that group stage: Salzburg played well, missed very good opportunities and this was punished by their rivals. “We play against the best opponents in this tournament, we always show our quality, and sadly that is not good enough against those teams in the end,” emphasized Marsch, who called his team’s performance in the group stage “outstanding”. Therefore, one is “disappointed, but also proud.” In the Europa League, Salzburg want to go beyond 2019/20.

The statistics already show that it is not easy for a team outside the top four (Spain, Italy, England and Germany) to go to the second round in the premier class: this year, with Porto and Paris Saint-Germain, only two teams outside of these succeeded. Countries in elimination phase. And as a preseason finalist with superstar Neymar, the French champion is known to be among the best clubs in Europe.

A total of 95:69 degrees

As in the previous year, when 14 of the 16 promoted teams had come out of the top four, Salzburg had a chance to win the last berth of 16 in the final match of the group stage. In 2019 the obstacle could not be greater with Liverpool, in 2020 it was hardly less with the leaders of the First Division. “It is not easy against a team that defends so well and so well. They conceded two goals in ten La Liga games, ”Marsch said after the match, in which Salzburg got quite close again.

The goal difference in the duel with Atlético was 18: 7 in favor of Salzburg, but the Madrilenians won 2: 0. Throughout the group stage, Salzburg were ahead with the final 95:69, but behind on goal difference at the end 10:17. On both sides, they were sometimes too hesitant or pitiful in decisive situations. Veteran Zlatko Junuzovic recognized “a trace of intelligence that we still lack.” Defender Rasmus Kristensen: “We were not good enough in goal, on both sides. We fought really well in all six games, but we only got four points. “

That’s three less than the year before, when he also finished third. Because Atlético drew twice against Lok Moscow, Salzburg still had the possibility of a “final” despite losing points. In this, Salzburg’s most successful CL goalscorer Mergim Berisha almost secured a dream start, but his deliberate conclusion only ended on pole.

“If we score the first goal, the game can be completely different,” Marsch emphasized and especially regretted this opportunity. Due to the opponent’s defensive style of play, the American had indicated in advance how important a goal lead would be. In the end, the rival scored with a set piece and a precise cross from Yannick Carrasco, which Mario Hermoso completed with a header. For Atlético coach Diego Simeone (“Salzburg were clearly better in the first 30 minutes”) this goal laid the foundations for promotion because “this goal was decisive”.

Foul with consequences

After the match, Marsch struggled with the decision of English referee Anthony Taylor, which led to the free kick in front of goal. “I think it was not a fault. The opponent always fell as soon as there was contact. Then everyone on the bench shouted, and that also affects the referee, “explained the disappointed American. Portugal’s young star Joao Félix had already decisively thrown a spitzel in this situation when Junuzovic hit him in the leg. In addition, the foul occurred after a throw-in near the contour, so it was not absolutely necessary.

This resulted in the momentous free kick. Atlético scored, and that made the task for Salzburg, who absolutely needed a win to move up, extremely difficult shortly before the break. A few minutes after the break, Dominik Szoboszlai again had a great opportunity to make it 1-1, but world-class goalkeeper Jan Oblak was lost, who had no intervention in this case. “Then it could have been a different game,” Kristensen said in marching form and regretted this opportunity. Probably also because Salzburg would have had around 40 minutes to score the winning goal.

“Represented our football”

In the end, the Group A favorites prevailed, Salzburg leaving the CL stage with their heads held high. “We play very well and represent our football,” Marsch said. “It’s not that we did it wrong, but against opponents with such qualities, for example, we had two of the best goalkeepers in the world in our group (Manuel Neuer, Bayern and Jan Oblak, Atlético, note), it’s easy difficult”, analyzed the 47-year-old.

Their captain Andreas Ulmer was right along the same lines: “We played a good group stage. We were close to a surprise. In the end it was not enough, but we did not have the opportunity to spend the winter in the Champions League. “Junuzovic:” My conclusion is that we lost too many opportunities.

Europa League again as consolation

At least the minimum goal was achieved with third place and the associated change to the Europa League. “We have achieved a goal, that’s good. But at the moment it is still difficult, ”said Marsch and hit the EL-euphoria brake after the CL-Aus. A year ago, at the time, he had set himself a goal of winning the Europa League title and then failed with his team in the round of 32 at Eintracht Frankfurt. Instructors also extract lessons. “I’m not saying it because I don’t believe it, but now it’s not necessary. Our goal is without a doubt to play better than last year. “

On Monday, Salzburg discover their rival in the round of 16. As one of the worst four thirds of the CL group, the Austrian series champion is not established, unlike last year. The “bulls” will definitely start the 2021 European Cup year with a home game.