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After the disappointing 1-0 defeat at Molde, Hütteldorfer are already under pressure in the race for promotion. Goalkeeper Paul Gartler was a rare ray of hope in Norway.
Rapid are already under pressure after two games in the Europa League. Austria’s runners-up disappointed on Thursday against Molde FK away from home, losing 1-0 (0-0) and are already six points away from promotion. The only positive point was the performance of goalkeeper Paul Gartler, who surprisingly got preference over Richard Strebinger.
Strebinger had shown weaknesses in recent weeks, so coach Dietmar Kühbauer settled on Gartler. The 23-year-old, who only played two games in the Bundesliga, thanked him with an impeccable game. He kept his team in the game with a few saves, but when Ohi Omoijuanfo scored (65th) he had no chance. “I was happy to be there, but I can’t buy much, a 1-0 loss is a 1-0 loss,” Gartler angered.
Because the people in front of him were not having a good day. Apart from a few minutes before the break, Molde was clearly the best team. The Norwegian champions were stronger in the innings, more confident on the ball and more dangerous in front of goal. The fact that they are used to the artificial turf at Aker Stadium was a good thing for the locals, but it was not the only reason for their superiority.
Artificial grass and preparation “like dead fish”
“Molde has shown that they can combine very well on this surface. They feel more comfortable in this field without me trying to find an excuse. Our game was not good enough to bring us something,” Kühbauer said on the pulse. -4 interview. “Today we were not in the game like that, not in the duels, many times we lost second balls,” he complained.
Kühbauer did not fail to mention that the conditions for the journey to the far north were anything but ideal. Rapid had already arrived two days before the match to comply with Norway’s strict hygiene regulations and had to spend time at the hotel. “If you walk like a dead fish for three days,” that’s not the best preparation, emphasized the Rapid coach.
Dejan Ljubicic was very self-critical. “Especially in the first 30 minutes we lacked the fighting spirit, we did not know the way, we lost too many duels. And that is not possible against an opponent like that,” criticized the captain. “You have to deliver, you don’t have the Europa League that often, you have to do your best to win the match. It wasn’t enough,” Ljubicic said.
Therefore, the target promotion is difficult to achieve. Arsenal, who beat Dundalk FC 3-0 on Thursday, and Molde have six points apiece, but Rapid wants to come back with a win next week in their home game against Dundalk. “There are still four games left. I hope we can get our first points on Thursday, we will not give up,” Kühbauer said.
(WHAT)
