LASK also remained winless in the fifth competitive game of the new football year, and their performance in the 0-0 draw in Altach was shocking. “Now we have enough time on the bus to think,” said Sascha Horvath immediately following the final whistle. The only positive thing was that a point was taken despite the weak performance. LASK remained third, and with one round before the end of the regular round, entry into the championship group of the Bundesliga is guaranteed.
“A lot was missing,” said coach Thomas Sageder, who has a lot to work on. He was forced to make changes due to the suspensions of Robert Zulj and Filip Stojkovic, and he voluntarily left Valon Berisha out of the starting lineup. Once once more, the Black and Whites remained goalless without Zulj, for the ninth time since his return to LASK in the summer of 2022. They only scored a goal (from a penalty) once morest Lustenau a year ago.
What was particularly shocking was that LASK mightn’t even get into the opponents’ half in a meaningful way. Not a single shot before the break, two following – that’s far too few. And defensively, LASK wobbled worryingly; too many easy ball losses invited Altach to score goals. But Lukas Fadinger (20th, 48th), Paul Koller (35th) and Atdhe Nuhiu (71st) spared LASK.
Lawal: “It’s not working right now”
The unnerved George Bello was relieved by Sageder at halftime: following the penalty foul the previous week, which initiated the 0-1 defeat once morest Wolfsberg and which threw him off his stride, he was once once more a factor of uncertainty – one of many. “It’s not going well right now. The performances in the first few games weren’t that bad, the results were bad,” explained goalkeeper Tobias Lawal on Sky. It was also the appearance in Altach. “There is a lack of self-confidence. A few slight ball losses have led to chances for the opponent, which then becomes a downward spiral.”
With Berisha coming on, LASK at least gained more control of the game following the break, but the only threat was a header from Philipp Ziereis following a corner (93′). “I know these phases. This is a phase in which things don’t go well,” said Horvath. How can the trend reversal succeed? “We can only get out together. We have a good group. At some point the button will open.”
At the end of the regular season, league leaders Salzburg are coming to Linz on Saturday, for the second time in the spring following the Cup quarter-finals. Horvath: “This is a game in which we have nothing to lose.”
Dissatisfied with the “basics”
LASK coach Thomas Sageder following the game: “It was a very weak performance from us. I’m very dissatisfied, especially with things that are called basics. We missed them. When you go to Altach, you expect one “Very intense game characterized by duels, you have to accept that. And if you don’t accept it, it looks something like today. That was the worst first half since I’ve been a coach. For me, that’s not entirely explainable.”
… when asked whether LASK is dependent on captain Robert Zulj: “Yes, obviously. I’m glad he’ll be available once more next week.”
Author
Günther Mayrhofer
Sports editor
Günther Mayrhofer
