2024-11-11 15:04:00
Just before the highlight game against defending champions FC Barcelona on Tuesday (6.45 p.m.) in the women’s football Champions League, the SKN St. Pölten is in the last hole in terms of personnel. “The situation is very critical,” emphasized coach Liese Brancao on Monday. “In reality, we only have twelve outfield players fit for tomorrow.” The very high hurdle has increased once again for Austria’s series champions, who have no points after two Group D games.
While Isabelle Meyer and Ella Touon have been missing for some time, Mateja Zver, Jennifer Klein, Sarah Mattner, Claudia Wenger and Leonarda Balog are not available. In addition, the use of Slovenian team player Izabela Krizaj is “very questionable”. The staff misery has an impact on the guests’ gaming facilities. “Our game is usually very intense against the ball, but you usually need 15 players for that. We don’t have them tomorrow, so we will have to play a little more defensively,” announced Brancao.
On paper, the task couldn’t be bigger. “They have 100 percent more individual class than Manchester City, for me they are the best team in the world,” said the Brazilian. This is also shown by a look at the squad. With the outstanding Spaniard Aitana Bonmati and her compatriot Alexia Putellas, the world footballers of recent years are in the squad. In the attack, Caroline Graham Hansen and Ewa Pajor, who Austria also faces in the duel with Poland in the fight for a European Championship ticket, are two dazzling figures.
Two others, Salma Paralluelo and Fridolina Rolfö, are not match-fit. Regardless, the record in the Spanish league with nine wins and 43:5 goals could hardly be better. On Saturday, Atletico Madrid was defeated 3-0 away. St. Pölten defeated Neulengbach 4-0 at the dress rehearsal on the same day, and with a record of eight wins and two draws with 33-2 goals, the Brancao team’s national record is also impressive.
Their performance against England’s runners-up in Vienna was also impressive, where they lost 3-2 after a 2-1 lead. “City plays more athletically, Barcelona more playfully. We can expect a completely different type of football. It will definitely be more difficult for us,” said Brancao.
St. Pölten’s opening conqueror Hammarby recently showed how it doesn’t work against Barcelona. The Swedes slipped into a 0-9 debacle away from home. “Hammarby had a lot of self-confidence because of the win against us and tried to play a lot and attacked Barcelona very high. But if you give them a lot of space behind the chain, then they are very good,” analyzed St. Pölten’s coach.
Just putting Johan Cruyff at the back at the Estadi is not a promising option either. “We respect Barcelona, but it’s important that we stick to our stuff and can play our game with the ball,” said Brancao. Nobody would have expected St. Pölten to have such a close game against ManCity. “It was a great day for us and something like that has to happen again,” said Brancao.
The guests could benefit from the fact that the first Liga Clasico at Real Madrid is scheduled for Saturday. Brancao therefore didn’t expect the best formation, just a “good mix”. It probably won’t be a B team, Barca lost 2-0 against ManCity at the start, so they certainly don’t want to lose any more points. Only if that happens will St. Pölten fly home happy. “You can maybe take a few things with you if the performance was good, but the truth is that at this level it’s all about the result. So we’re only happy when we score,” said Brancao.
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**Interview with Liese Brancao, Coach of SKN St. Pölten Women’s Team**
**Editor:** Thank you for joining us today, Liese! The team’s situation sounds quite challenging ahead of the match against FC Barcelona. Can you share more about the current roster issues you’re facing?
**Liese Brancao:** Thank you for having me. Yes, it’s been quite critical for us. Right now, we only have twelve fit outfield players available. With Isabelle Meyer and Ella Touon already sidelined, the absence of Mateja Zver, Jennifer Klein, Sarah Mattner, Claudia Wenger, and Leonarda Balog has made it difficult. We’re also unsure about Izabela Krizaj’s readiness to play, which adds to our worries.
**Editor:** That’s certainly tough ahead of a crucial match. How do you plan to adjust your strategy given the limited player availability?
**Liese Brancao:** Given the circumstances, we will need to adopt a more defensive approach. Our usual style relies heavily on intensity and pressing, which typically requires at least 15 players. With our current numbers, we’ll need to be strategic about how we approach the game and focus on maintaining a solid defense.
**Editor:** Barcelona is known for its exceptional squad, featuring players like Aitana Bonmati and Alexia Putellas. What do you see as the key challenges in facing such a formidable opponent?
**Liese Brancao:** The challenges are immense. In terms of individual quality, I believe they possess more talent than any other team we’ve faced, including Manchester City. Their depth, with stars like Caroline Graham Hansen and Ewa Pajor, provides them with a significant advantage. It’s a daunting task for us, but we’ll have to find a way to manage it.
**Editor:** You mentioned that Barcelona’s recent form in La Liga is impressive. How does your team’s latest performance compare, heading into this match?
**Liese Brancao:** We did well in our last match, winning against Neulengbach, which helps build our confidence. However, the level of intensity and skill we face from Barcelona is on a different scale. While we aim to carry that momentum into the game, we must recognize the gaps in our squad and adjust accordingly.
**Editor:** what message do you have for your players and fans as you prepare for this high-stakes encounter?
**Liese Brancao:** To my players, I want to emphasize resilience and teamwork. This match is a great opportunity to show our strength as a unit, despite the odds. For our fans, your support means the world to us, and we will give everything we have on that pitch. Let’s make this a memorable experience together!
**Editor:** Thank you, Liese! Best of luck in the match against FC Barcelona. We’ll be watching closely!
**Liese Brancao:** Thank you!
