PICTURED: APA / ERWIN SCHERIAU
The break pilot fledged. For many years Red Bull Salzburg followed the soccer Champions League without success, now the “premier class” is almost becoming a habit. On Tuesday (6.45 p.m. / live Sky), Sevilla FC will start the group phase en suite for the third time, and Matthias Jaissle's squad can speculate that they will be promoted to the knockout phase for the first time. In any case, the self-confidence is great. “We're good for a surprise in Seville,” said Jaissle.
The start of the six-time record winners of the Europa League and the UEFA Cup (most recently in 2020) is a tough one. Coach Julen Lopetegui, who coached Spain's national team between 2016 and 2018, knows how to do it: The 55-year-old has led Seville to third and fourth place in the past two seasons, the EL win 2020 and at least reached the CL- in spring Round of 16, where they were defeated by BVB. Center forward Youssef En-Nesyri scored six goals at the time, and the fast, powerful Moroccan will also pose a tricky task for Salzburg's defense. There are also wing player Jesus Navas, ex-Barca veteran Ivan Rakitic, new signing Erik Lamela and the young midfielder Oscar Rodriguez.
“A typical Spanish team that defines itself through possession of the ball. They not only have the right quality individually, but also – led by the coach – clear patterns; especially offensive, but also against the ball,” said Jaissle, his team in Group G as well meets OSC Lille and VfL Wolfsburg. “We have to find good solutions with the ball in order to avoid the physical condition that they also have as much as possible.”
Nicolas Seiwald also knew that nobody had to worry about the individual quality of the simple Spanish master (1946). “A really strong opponent in terms of play,” said the midfielder, who, at 20 years of age, symbolizes the young Jaissle team, whose CL squad is the youngest of all 32 teams, thanks to an average age of 22.07 according to the club. Of course, that has not stopped the team from scoring as many victories in ten games of the season so far – two of them in the CL play-off against Brondby. Jaissle is on the professional level as a trainer with a crisp white vest.
And this vest is in danger of bursting. “We come to Seville with a big chest,” said Jaissle before departure on Monday. “We started a great series, the guys are doing really well. I hope that tomorrow they will take to the field with this carefree, with this cheek.” For some of his kickers like Seiwald (“It's cool”) it will be the CL premiere and a clear change of role compared to the league. “We're the favorites, we'll make the game,” emphasized Seiwald. “This is something new at CL level. I already appealed to the guys today that they should perform courageously and with great joy,” said Jaissle.
In any case, one could “fly to Seville with a big grin and then rock the place,” as Jaissle noted. The “booth” is the Estadio Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan, which holds around 40,000 spectators and in which Salzburg made a guest appearance in 2008. At that time they lost 2-0 away under Co Adriaanse in the first round of the UEFA Cup, and the “Bulls” also lost 2-0 at home. For Jaissle, the focus on Tuesday is last but not least on the learning factor: “They have to learn from every situation, individually and as a team. Especially at this level, boys develop further.”
The fact that Valencia's league game against FC Barcelona was postponed last weekend after a dismissal dispute with FIFA over the South American La Liga players is “not a worry. We are sure you will have fresh legs, that is something we are aware of,” said Jaissle , who has to do without the long-term absentees Sekou Koita (knee) and Albert Vallci (Achilles tendon), as well as having to worry about Zlatko Junuzovic. The veteran was missing at the weekend with a bruised heel and can also have to watch in Seville.
