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Basel will compete against Osijek in qualifying for the Europa League on Thursday. Also present: Valentin Stocker and goalkeeper Djordje Nikolic.
It was a difficult moment for FC Basel after the end of the season. The change of coach from Marcel Koller to Ciriaco Sforza did not happen without background noise. Rumors of dissatisfied players also repeatedly reached the public.
Xhaka stays home
Personal data Valentin Stocker and Taulant Xhaka gave something to talk about. Now there is clarity on this: both Stocker (until 2023) and Xhaka (2024) have extended their contracts in recent days and will continue to play on the Rhine’s knee in the future.
While Xhaka like Yannick Marchand and long-lasting injuries Luca Zuffi, Raoul Petretta and Elis Isufi stayed home, all the other players made the trip to Croatia. Forward Cabral did not contest the test against Saarbrücken (1: 5) on Friday because he only trained a few days after the crown quarantine, Sforza said.
Nikolic is Sforza’s regular goalkeeper
The FCB coach also determined his number 1 ahead of the big match of the second round of the qualifying round for the Europa League, Djordje Nikolic is the goalkeeper of the Basel team until further notice. Heinz Lindner, 30, was named No. 2, Sforza said. “We discussed that with him.”
Nikolic, 23, is still young, but has “great talent.” If you stay calm and focused, you will bring a lot of joy to the club. “We will see more developments,” Sforza added.
With on board
FCB captain Valentin Stocker the day before the game.
Freshfocus
From the quarterfinals to qualifying
For Sforza, his debut as an FCB coach is equally serious: the duel for advance to the third qualifying round will be decided in a single match. If you lose, the adventure of the European Cup is suddenly over. The 50-year-old didn’t have much time to prepare. Less than 3 weeks should be enough for him to meet his new team.
Memories of last season’s successful European adventure are still fresh. Both in the group stage and in the sixteenth and eighth final, Basler managed to convince. Only in the quarterfinals was it over after a 4-1 draw against Donetsk.
