Kühbauer
Rapid is about to move into the play-off of the Europa League after a 3-0 home win against Anorthosis Famagusta. Coach Didi Kühbauer warns anyway.
Ercan Kara (35th), Taxiarchis Fountas (65th) and Marco Grüll (84th) had secured the clear victory against seemingly overwhelmed Cypriots. However, the Hütteldorfer left several opportunities.
Coach Didi Kühbauer denounced this even after the final whistle on “ORF”. “If someone had told me before the game that we would win 3-0, I would have taken it. But we had a chance of a bigger win, I could have exchanged earlier,” the 50-year-old quarreled with the exploitation of the chances, but asked at the same time clear: “I'm already satisfied with the win.”
In comparison to the moderate start of the league season and the end in the Champions League qualification against Sparta Prague, Rapid had shown themselves to be more joyful and safer in the passing game. “We brought the game in our direction, but we were sometimes too headstrong in front of goal. But you could see that the team really wants to win,” praised the green and white coach.
Rapid defense chief Maximilian Hofmann saw it that way. “We have a comfortable lead. We didn't score the last time, we scored today, but it would have been even better,” said the 27-year-old. “You can tell how fast things are going at Rapid: after two games you can hear how bad everything is, but today it was a good first step,” said the central defender.
Rapid will play the second leg in Larnaca next Thursday (August 12th, 7pm). For Kühbauer, the ascent is far from fixed, the trip to Cyprus should not just be a summer trip. “We don't go there with slippers or go for a swim. We need a good performance there too,” warned the green and white coach. Finally, Famagusta striker Kyle Lafferty hit the bar in Hütteldorf (69th).
