2024-11-13 10:00:00
In the home game against ManCity, which was narrowly lost 2-3, St. Pölten caused a sensation with a courageous performance over long stretches and was able to at least dream of winning points for a long time. This strategy was not an option on Spanish soil given the lack of personnel, as there were only two fit substitutes available.
Deep defense was the order of the day, with a newly formed defense in which striker Rita Schumacher acted as right-back and midfielders Kamila Dubcova and Anna Johanning acted in the center of the unfamiliar five-man chain.
“Seven goals are too many”
The experiment worked, at least in the first 30 minutes, with goalkeeper Carina Schlüter making two strong saves. After that, five goals were conceded before the break. “Of course we know that Barcelona, as the best team in the world, is in a completely different class than us. Nevertheless, we did really well in the first 30 minutes. Then we didn’t properly occupy the rooms for a quarter of an hour, and we were clearly slacking off. Of course, conceding so many goals in such a short time is not possible,” Schlüter summed up.
Shortly before the half-time whistle she misjudged a Lopez cross, which was followed by the fifth goal, otherwise she was a safe support. This is not the only reason why she will remember the game for a long time. “The game in Barcelona was a big childhood dream come true. “It was a lot of fun,” said the German. Coach Liese Brancao also wanted a duel with the “world’s best” team at the draw. After part one she was clearly “dissatisfied”. “Seven goals are too many,” emphasized the Brazilian.
The personnel situation remains tense
The clear defeat did not come as a surprise. “It’s difficult to implement this so quickly because we normally do something completely different,” said the 43-year-old. At least you can take positive aspects with you. “I am very proud of 60 minutes, where we showed that we can also defend deep, something we are not used to.” Similar tactics will also be required in the second leg, especially as the personnel situation remains tense.
According to Brancao, Claudia Wenger and Jennifer Klein will be missing for “four to six weeks”, while Sarah Mattner, Ella Touon, Mateja Zver and Leonarda Balog are expected to be out for “two to a maximum of three weeks”. Izabela Krizaj could get fit. It would therefore be presumptuous to flirt with a home success. “We’re trying to do better in the home game so that we only concede two goals in two halves. That would be a dream against such an opponent,” said Valentina Mädl.
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**Interview with SKN St. Pölten Goalkeeper Carina Schlüter After Champions League Debacle Against Barcelona**
**Interviewer:** Carina, thank you for joining us. It’s been a tough match against Barcelona with a final score of 7-0. Can you tell us how you felt during the game?
**Carina Schlüter:** Thank you for having me. It was definitely a challenging match. In the first 30 minutes, I felt we were holding our own. We played with determination and I managed to make a couple of strong saves. But after that initial phase, we lost our structure and unfortunately conceded several goals in quick succession.
**Interviewer:** What do you think caused that drop in performance after such a promising start?
**Carina Schlüter:** I believe we struggled to occupy the right defensive spaces. We were clearly outmatched by Barcelona’s attacking prowess. After we let in a few goals, it felt like a snowball effect. We lost our confidence, which is something we need to learn from.
**Interviewer:** You mentioned that facing a team like Barcelona was a childhood dream. How do you reconcile that with the scoreline?
**Carina Schlüter:** It’s a mixed bag of emotions. While the score was disappointing, playing against the best team in the world is an experience I’ve dreamed about since I was a child. It’s something I will cherish despite the result. In terms of learning, we have to focus on the positives from our initial performance and build from there.
**Interviewer:** Coach Liese Brancao expressed dissatisfaction with the final score as well. What do you think needs to change for the team moving forward?
**Carina Schlüter:** We need to tighten our defensive organization and maintain our focus throughout the entire match. It’s crucial that we learn to keep our heads in difficult situations. Developing a stronger mental approach will be vital for us in upcoming challenges.
**Interviewer:** Looking ahead, what are your personal goals for the remainder of the season?
**Carina Schlüter:** My main goal is to help the team grow stronger and more competitive. I want to continue improving my own game and contribute to us achieving better results. The Champions League experience will definitely help us in domestic matches, and I believe we can bounce back.
**Interviewer:** Thank you for your insight, Carina, and good luck with the rest of the season.
**Carina Schlüter:** Thank you! We’ll keep working hard!