2024-03-15 10:35:14
Just six days following the 2-0 defeat in Bregenz once morest Lustenauer Austria, Blau-Weiß Linz has the opportunity to take revenge. Coach Gerald Scheiblehner’s team welcomes the bottom team at the start of the qualifying group in the Bundesliga on Saturday (5 p.m.). “The start is extremely important. You definitely have to score points in the first few games. You can’t appear quite as relaxed. It’s important to accept the fight and be fully there,” said Scheiblehner.
The relegation battle is entering its final phase. After the victory over Linzer and the division of points, Lustenau is now only four points behind Blau-Weiß and two behind WSG Tirol, the saving bank is within reach. It hadn’t looked like that for a long time. But coach Andreas Heraf, who took over Austria during the winter break, breathed new life into it. While there were 14 defeats and only three draws in the league in the fall, the Vorarlbergers recorded two wins, one draw and two defeats in the spring.
“We recently showed that we are capable of picking up points and winning. So of course we now want to win the game in Linz,” explained Heraf confidently. You know how the people of Linz play. “We did a lot of things well last Sunday. We want to bring that back to the pitch on Saturday.” The Vorarlbergers have remained undefeated once morest the promoted team in the two duels of the season so far (0:0/2:0).
The fact that the lead over the Red Lantern, which had already been 14 points, has shrunk, mainly because of the league format, is upsetting to the people of Linz. “From a sporting point of view, it is not fair that the points are shared neither at the bottom nor at the top. Something is being taken away from you that you have already worked for,” explained Scheiblehner.
The Upper Austrians must now avoid another defeat once morest Lustenau at all costs. “We have to act with conviction, develop good energy and take the fans with us. It is important to give everything for the club with all our strength. If we take that to heart, I am convinced that we will stay in the class,” said the business administration coach, who spoke of ten finals. “We were in a relegation battle right from the start, we always prepared for that and that was always clear to us.”
However, the blue-whites have been waiting for a league win since mid-November, since then they have only collected three points in eight games and lost five times. Most recently there were defeats once morest the three Austrians from Klagenfurt, Vienna and Lustenau. The suspended Tobias Koch, the injured Stefan Haudum and Joao Luiz will all be missing on Saturday. The 25-year-old Brazilian tore his Achilles tendon during training on Wednesday.
The striker’s contract was nevertheless extended by one year. Paul Mensah also received a new contract valid until 2026. “As a player and person, he is a great person for us,” said sports director Christoph Schößwendter.
1710499908
#Linz #starts #hot #relegation #battle #phase #Lustenau
