Coach Markus Schopp’s team lost 0-2 (0-1) against Olimpija Ljubljana in Laibach on Thursday evening after a mixed performance. Goals from Alex Blanco (14th) and Pedro Lucas (80th) decided the game in the Slovenians’ favor. After the 2-2 home win against Djurgarden Stockholm, the Linzers still have one point.
As expected, keeper Jörg Siebenhandl was available again for LASK despite a severe bruise under his eye. The goalkeeper suffered a bloody head wound against WSG Tirol at the weekend. Schopp brought Maximilian Entrup into the starting line-up, while Melayro Bogarde and Adil Taoui were also allowed to start. Meanwhile, Olimpija coach Victor Sanchez relied on the two Austrians Raul Florucz and Ahmet Muhamedbegovic.
Ljubljana got off to a better start
The leaders of the Slovenian league got off to a better start. Just when LASK was getting ready to make an offensive statement, the hosts scored 1-0. The strong Florucz found Blanco with a fine pass in the final third, who gave Siebenhandl no chance (14th).
The Upper Austrians couldn’t find their rhythm on the bumpy grass. The people of Ljubljana, on the other hand, kept putting needle pricks. Pedro Lucas almost used one of these to make it 2-0, Siebenhandl deflected his shot towards the Kreuzeck onto the inside bar. The LASK goalie grabbed the rebound (32nd). On the other side, Robert Zulj missed the equalizer with his head, goalie Matevz Vidovsek made a spectacular save while flying with his heel. Taoui put the follow-up shot into the side netting (33′).
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After the break the game remained unstable. Schopp tried to provide new impetus with the substitutions of Marin Ljubicic and Florian Flecker. In the 66th minute, a long-range shot from Entrup created the chance to equalize. Vidovsek deflected the ball forward to Ljubicic, who shot at the goalkeeper. From there the leather jumped to the hand of the Olimpija defender Jorge Silva, the whistle of referee Daniele Chiffi from Italy remained silent, as did the VAR.
LASK now increased the pace, but hardly had any compelling opportunities. Laibach closed the bag after a free kick with a goal from Brazilian Pedro Lucas (80th). For the Schopp team it was the first competitive defeat after six games without defeat. In the next European Cup game, LASK will host Cercle Brügge, the team of former Ried coach Miron Muslic, in two weeks. The Bundesliga home game against champions Sturm Graz awaits next Sunday.
Olympia: Vidovsek – Silva, Ratnik, Ristic, Muhamedbegovic, Sualehe (85. Govea) – Blanco (84. Brest), Doffo, Kojic (71. Charles), Pedro Lucas (84. Durdov) – Florucz (64. Boultam)
SHOT: Siebenhandl – Stojkovic (77. Boateng), Ziereis, Talowjerow (68. Smolcic), Bello – Bogarde, Jovicic (68. Horvath) – Taoui (58. Ljubicic), Zulj, Berisha (58. Flecker) – Entrup
Yellow cards: Sualehe, Boultam, Pedro Lucas, Muhamedbegovic bzw. Bogarde, Stojkovic, Flecker
Interview with Coach Markus Schopp Following LASK’s 0-2 Loss to Olimpija Ljubljana
Interviewer: Thank you for joining us, Coach Schopp. It was a tough match against Olimpija Ljubljana. What are your initial thoughts on the team’s performance?
Coach Schopp: Thank you for having me. It was indeed a challenging match. We started slowly and didn’t manage to establish our rhythm. Olimpija took advantage of their chances early on, and that put us on the back foot.
Interviewer: The opening goal came quite early in the match. How did that affect the team’s strategy?
Coach Schopp: Going down so early is always difficult. We had planned to be aggressive and push forward, but after the goal, we seemed hesitant. We recovered somewhat, but we couldn’t convert our chances, which was frustrating.
Interviewer: Jörg Siebenhandl made a commendable return despite his injury. How important was his presence in goal for the team?
Coach Schopp: Jörg is a crucial player for us. His experience and leadership on the pitch are invaluable, especially in tough situations like this. He made some great saves that kept us in the game.
Interviewer: There were a few missed opportunities, particularly from Robert Zulj and Melayro Bogarde. What do you think went wrong in those moments?
Coach Schopp: Those missed chances are disappointing because they could have changed the game for us. We need to focus on our finishing in training. Consistency in scoring is key if we want to achieve better results.
Interviewer: Looking ahead, what will be your focus in preparing for the next match?
Coach Schopp: We need to regroup and analyze this game closely. We’ll focus on building our confidence back up, improving our offensive play, and working on our defensive organization to prevent similar situations in the future.
Interviewer: Thank you, Coach Schopp. We appreciate your insights, and we wish LASK the best of luck in the upcoming matches.
Coach Schopp: Thank you very much. We’re determined to bounce back stronger.
What did you make of his performance and the impact of that injury on the team’s morale?
Coach Schopp: Jörg’s return was vital for us, especially considering the injury he sustained in the last match. He showed great resilience and made some crucial saves that kept us in the game. However, the whole team needed to rally around him more effectively. We lacked the intensity that’s required, and it’s disappointing that we couldn’t take full advantage of his strong presence.
Interviewer: It seems you tried different tactical adjustments after halftime. Can you talk about the substitutions and what you hoped to achieve with them?
Coach Schopp: Absolutely. I brought on Marin Ljubicic and Florian Flecker to inject some energy and creativity into our attack. We needed to push for an equalizer, and my aim was to increase our tempo and put Olimpija under pressure. Unfortunately, even with those changes, we struggled to create clear chances and that’s something we need to address moving forward.
Interviewer: Looking ahead, how do you plan to regroup for the upcoming matches, especially with a home game against champions Sturm Graz next week?
Coach Schopp: It’s essential for us to review this match closely and learn from our mistakes. We need to focus on our mindset and ensure that we come out strong in the next matches. Facing Sturm Graz will be a tough challenge, but it’s also an opportunity to bounce back. I trust in the ability of my players to respond positively.
Interviewer: Thank you for your insights, Coach Schopp. We appreciate your time, and we wish you the best of luck in your upcoming fixtures.
Coach Schopp: Thank you very much. I appreciate the support.