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European League
TSV Hartberg’s first trip to Europe ended at the first station. In Gliwice, Oststeirer conceded an avoidable 2-3 defeat on their debut on the international stage in qualifying for the Europa League on Thursday. Coach Markus Schopp had mixed feelings. Even if morale was good, his team acted too hesitantly by conceding goals to survive.
Tobias Kainz (33.) and Lukas Ried (75.) were too few to watch. Although morale was good, Hartberg was unable to counter for the third time after a new setback from Michal Zyro (84th). Striker Kainz spoke of a bitter night: “We invested a lot up front, we scored two good goals, but unfortunately it was not enough.”
Piast Gliwice, still Polish champion in 2019, who did not start the season with a draw and two losses, let the guests have their way and waited for their mistakes. Schopp had expected that after the observations. The lack of focus on my own game came unexpectedly. Hartberger conceded 0: 1 after less than ten minutes of a direct counterattack. With the decisive goal, Zyro had too much room with his header. “You shouldn’t do that at this level,” Schopp said of his team’s mistakes.
Europa League: Hartberg’s journey ends after debut
The Styrians have to admit defeat in the Europa League second qualifying round at Piast Gliwice.
“You cannot achieve these goals”
“My team found excellent solutions from the beginning, but those goals cannot be achieved,” the 46-year-old repeated. “The game would have been really interesting if we had been leaders,” he said. A trip to FC Copenhagen would have been a reward. Gliwice can now compete. Probably without head coach Waldemar Fornalik. In Piast’s coach, his coronavirus disease was made public shortly before the start. He was represented on the sidelines by his brother.
Hartberg conceded 74 goals in 32 rounds last Bundesliga season. Defensive weaknesses were also revealed in the European Cup. The learning effect should still be present, as Schopp wanted to emphasize. With players like Dario Tadic, Rene Swete and Thomas Rotter, you played in the Regionalliga four years ago, the former Sturm Graz pro recalled in his analysis.
Drawing lessons for the future
“When you consider that, the learning curve is fine. To go further, we need to take much more of these games with us. It’s a huge thing that we were there. But the goal should be for us to come into contact with those experiences more often. You have to develop this hunger, ”Schopp said. He had extended his contract with TSV after the end of the season and had not yet declared his mission complete.
For Hartberg, the European Cup adventure ended quickly. One night in Katowice, then on Friday morning we returned to Graz by plane. A home game against WAC awaits on Sunday. The other dates are also difficult. In the third round he returns to play at home against Sturm Graz, before the international break, Hartberg will visit the Salzburg Masters.
