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Once again, Austria’s front man, Salzburg, is approaching the group stage of the Football Champions League. Qualified last year, this time you have to get “the hard way” to the premier class, a path that has always ended prematurely in the previous eleven attempts. But one is not afraid. “That is not a problem at all,” said sports director Christoph Freund.
They failed twice against Israeli teams, in 2009 Maccabi Haifa, in 2010 Hapoel Tel Aviv, became an obstacle. Tuesday (9 pm) will be that moment again, Maccabi Tel Aviv awaits the game away from home. Freund isn’t worried about the shadows of the past looming over his team, which has hardly changed over the summer.
“We have had great international success in recent years, and it always felt like the Champions League, for example against Dortmund,” Freund said in an interview with APA, emphasizing the great experience gained in 54 European Cup matches. in the last four seasons. . “The moment (of elimination, note) was of course always bitter, but last season’s Champions League made up for a lot. We felt a lot of positive energy.”
The fact that the team has hardly changed compared to the previous season with the exception of Hwang Hee-chan is “basically a very positive starting point, but that doesn’t guarantee success,” Freund said, referring to the previous winter. “We had a very good feeling there and then we briefly experienced a blue miracle. And last summer we had a lot of changes and we played a strong fall. In any case, we cannot believe it will be a sure success.”
One way or another, it will not change much in the staff situation, even if the transfer window remains open until October 5 and also if the move to the premier category is successful. “We said weeks ago that we were very satisfied with the squad, both qualitatively and quantitatively,” confirmed Freund.
According to transfermarkt.at, the market value of the Israeli opponent is almost eight times smaller than that of Salzburg at around 18 million euros, but Freund found that Maccabi should not be underestimated in any way. Greek coach Georgios Donis’ squad was champion twice in a row, Itay Shechter also being the man of the squad who with a goal in 2010 played an important role in the elimination of the “policemen” by Hapoel Tel Aviv. In the new season of the Israeli league, however, they started with just one point from two matches, in the CL standings they beat FC Riga, Suduva Marijampole and Dinamo Brest.
“They played a very good season last season and they have smart and experienced players, even if they are not very well known. It will not be easy,” Freund said. “It is up to us how we play the games. I am convinced that we have a lot of power and a lot of speed and the best players and if we use our potential, we can do it.”
The fact that the game is taking place in Israel, where there is currently a crown lock again, has not only caused coach Jesse Marsch to shake his head (“I don’t want to play in Israel”). “I can’t quite understand it either, that’s kind of weird,” Freund said. However, UEFA has assured that it will take the necessary measures. For example, on Saturday an institute in Salzburg commissioned by the Continental Association conducted the crown tests of the delegation of “policemen”, which will number about 45 people. “It will be a bit strange to play there. But there is nothing to change, we don’t want to waste energy on that, we want to fully concentrate on football.”
Those: APA
