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Strong phase for the Linzers
© WHAT
LASK successfully completed the fall intensive block with seven games in 23 days. “That was very, very good,” Dominik Thalhammer said of the phase since the last international break in early October. The clear 4: 0 against the last Bundesliga Admira on Sunday meant the sixth victory, Linz was the only Bundesliga club to win all three league matches. He only missed the Europa League guest appearance at London’s premier club Tottenham (0: 3).
“Basically, I have to say that I am very satisfied with how we finished second,” said Thalhammer, who still sees some potential in athletes. “There were a lot of positives, but I think we can improve even more in third place. There are still a lot of things we can do.” According to the 50-year-old man, there is no lack of will. “The team wants to improve every day and we also want to be on the coaching staff.”
Especially in European Cup games, the coach said, the Linzers have gained significant experience and self-confidence. The LASK no longer sees itself as a pure pressing machine. “I think we had a very clear structure against the ball. We also developed that in positional play. But in some phases we don’t have the stability to play this way for 90 minutes,” Thalhammer said.
Thalhammer also saw a “decent game with some optimization options” in the clear final 4-0 win against his former club Admira. After failing “the necessary depth” with their team in the first half, they made things clear with three goals.
Rehabilitation is now the order of the day for some frequent players. Others, such as goalkeeper Alexander Schlager, head of defense Gernot Trauner, Reinhold Ranftl or possible newcomer Hussein Balic, could play up to three internationals with the ÖFB team under Franco Foda.
The current positive situation in Linz is only clouded by the serious knee injury of center forward Marko Raguz. With Wolfsburg newcomer Mamoudou Karamoko also suffering a pubic bone injury, Alexander Schmidt, who was loaned out to St. Pölten, could be returned in the winter transfer window. “We have to talk to him first, we have to talk to St. Pölten. He is definitely a person we have to think about,” LASK Vice President Jürgen Werner told Sky.
On Admira’s side, Damir Buric longed for the break before the game. Südstädter had to sign nine players for crown and injury reasons. “At the moment we are taking all the breadth,” said the Croatian, whose team is at the bottom of the table after their third consecutive defeat.
Despite “a lot of analysis and a lot of discussion with the players”, Buric did not seem satisfied with the implementation of his specifications. Players are also challenged during the two week break, as Buric said: “For us it is an opportunity to see which players show character and the receptivity (needed) in this difficult phase.” The following games in Tirol and against Hartberg will underline this again.
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