2024-02-11 15:08:54
After the good performances against LASK and Sturm Graz, Bulls coach Gerhard Struber can breathe a sigh of relief and look positively into the future after a mixed autumn.
Unconvincing performances and the end of international business. Gerhard Struber certainly imagined the first half-season as coach of Austria’s series champions Red Bull Salzburg differently. The 47-year-old promised improvement in the spring. And after the first two competitive games in 2024, it looks as if Struber has drawn the right conclusions and made the right adjustments in winter preparation.
Struber relies on a new system
In the ÖFB Cup against LASK (3:2) and in the Bundesliga hit against Sturm Graz (1:1), the Bulls were not yet able to shine over the full game distance, but at least at times they were able to show refreshing offensive football again. And the Salzburg fans also expect this from their kickers. The fact that the Bundesliga Croesus appears more attractive and dominant again is mainly due to the new game system. Struber swapped his preferred 4-4-2 for a 3-4-2-1 in the winter and thus probably took the right step. “We have seen that with this system we can put massive pressure on the opponent, that we develop good numerical dynamics, that we create good positioning. And the boys like it, that’s the most important thing. I’m pleased that “The boys accepted it so well,” explained the Salzburg coach on Friday after the 1-1 draw against Sturm Graz. We will see on Saturday against promoted Blau-Weiß Linz whether the new system will also work against smaller teams that will not give the Bulls much space on offense with a defensive style of play.
Three standard goals in two games
What is also new for the Bulls is their strength in standard situations. In recent years, Salzburg have rarely been able to celebrate goals after dead balls; in 2024, the champions scored three out of four goals from set pieces. “We invest a lot of time in set pieces because I am convinced that we can make the difference in this phase because we have guys who shoot incredibly good set pieces,” says Struber, who has one assistant coach to thank in particular: Alexander Hauser is responsible for the dead balls and has done a very good job so far.
Winter newcomer is convincing
In addition to veteran Andreas Ulmer, a winter newcomer in particular impressed against Sturm Graz on Friday. Flavius Daniliuc, who was loaned from Italian first division club Salernitana shortly before the transfer deadline, delivered an impressive performance on his debut. Only when the central defender was replaced in the final phase was Sturm able to get into the spotlight offensively and equalize. The three-man chain with Oumar Solet, Strahinja Pavlović and Daniliuc, for whom the Bulls have a purchase option, will probably only be able to be cracked by a few Bundesliga forward lines in its current form.
Services must be confirmed
The offensive, however, still has room for improvement. Oscar Gloukh and Fernando didn’t have their best day, and Petar Ratkov was also rarely able to assert himself, but at least scored the Bulls’ goal after a corner. It is quite possible that Struber will rely on other front-line kickers in Linz. He had enough alternatives. Roko Šimić and Luka Sučić are pushing back into the starting eleven. Sékou Koïta, Nene Dorgeles and Karim Konaté returned from the Africa Cup of Nations. In addition, youngster Adam Daghim showed on Friday after coming on as a substitute that he could soon be a serious option with his power and speed.
If the Bulls continue to develop in the right direction in the coming weeks, then criticism of coach Struber and the team will be a thing of the past. But this will not only require victories, but also continued convincing performances.
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