One week after the opening defeat against WSG Tirol, the LASK in the master's group is looking to make amends when the WAC makes a guest appearance in the Paschinger Raiffeisen-Arena on Sunday afternoon. While the Linz team had to digest a 2-0 defeat, the WAC even got under the wheels 8-1 against Rapid.
Dominik Thalhammer: “We didn't achieve what we wanted”
“We did not achieve what we wanted, namely a good start in the championship group,” emphasized Dominik Thalhammer at a press conference on Friday. The game against Tyrol was “factually analyzed” and now they want to do what they do best against the battered WAC: “Play football really hard,” said the LASK coach. His team have “trained really intensively in the last few units and showed a reaction. I hope that we can finally prove on Sunday that we can do the championship group,” said the 50-year-old.
Alexander Schlager as the new penalty shooter? “Would dare to take responsibility”
Goalie Alexander Schlager also ticked off the defeat against the Kristallkicker and is already looking ahead: “We are a team that reflects a lot and thinks about what is happening on the pitch, but we have proven that we can handle setbacks well. We know why, “affirmed the native of Salzburg, who then commented on the last penalties missed. Five of LASK's last nine penalty kicks were not a goal. According to Schlager, however, this should not be “over-thematized”. Nevertheless, the goalie admits that it would be “cool” if you “had a shooter who always blows him cold, but it's not always that easy,” said Schlager, who is convinced that mental strength is essential when it comes to penalties Aspect is. He would dare to “take responsibility, but I also can't guarantee that I'll get the next one in,” grinned the 25-year-old.
LASK is preparing for two scenarios of how the WAC could act
Dominik Thalhammer then looked back on the defeat last Sunday: “I think we weren't clear enough about our principles that set us apart. It was important to sharpen it this week,” said the LASK coach. In the second half they ran into a counterattack against the Wattener, which “as a top team just can't get”. In addition, the remaining defense was no longer so good.
Now, with the WAC, there is a team that “is currently suffering. A lot has happened there recently,” said Thalhammer. The LASK is preparing for two scenarios of how the WAC could act. On the one hand, on a defensive WAC team that does not want to run into another debacle after the 8-1 defeat against Rapid, and on the more offensive Carinthians who “play more aggressively and attack higher,” explained Thalhammer.
When asked by Ligaportal reporter Herbert Pumann how the recovery process of Marko Raguz was progressing, Thalhammer replied: “Marko is currently in individual training. It will be the case that he will probably be partially integrated into team training at the beginning of May,” emphasized the LASK coach. The progress is “very good”.
