With the spectacular 2: 2 in a hectic exchange of blows with Lazio in Rome, Graz kept all promotion options open. Christian Ilzer’s team was looking forward to the “return match” against Feyenoord in Graz in two weeks’ time before the return flight with a thirst for revenge. The surprising point win in Italy was viewed with mixed feelings.
“I’m a bit torn, you have to be happy here, but I’m also a bit disappointed,” said goalie Jörg Siebenhandl. He and his colleagues were initially only reluctant to be celebrated by the 1,500 Sturm fans who, according to the club, had traveled with them. In the run-up illusory, but now true: The small disappointment that in the duels with Lazio a bigger result than the two points was possible, applauded the farewell.
“All Trumps in Hand”
Because Feyenoord and Midtjylland also drew again (2-2), all four teams are holding five points after four of six games. “I didn’t expect the group to be so open. We have all the trumps in our own hands,” said Siebenhandl, whose troupe is making a guest appearance in Denmark. The first two teams are promoted, the third team moves to the knockout phase of the conference league. “Everything is open in the group, we have two finals to ourselves and we’re already looking forward to the game against Feyenoord,” said Ilzer, not without acknowledging his team’s mature performance against Lazio.
In particular, Ilzer rated the second half as “impressive”, when storming after yellow-red overpowered hotspur Manuel Lazzari. “But what’s annoying for me is that we then have to concede the goal at a time when we really had the upper hand.” Ilzer didn’t want to let his team’s performance be said to be too wild. In a good majority game, the trainer made it clear that the increased risk was deliberately taken. Pedro’s goal, in which Siebenhandl didn’t look good either, was due to passivity. “Lazio also have the individual class with one man less to worry about.”
With a bit of referee luck, Sturm would only have had to deal with nine laziali in the second round. The provocative star striker Ciro Immobile made it 1-0 with a penalty kick, but otherwise danced with a push against Jon Gorenc-Stankovic and a foul against Gregory Wüthrich, but was very close to being sent off.
wrong decision?
Ilzer nobly ignored this in his analysis. The game sometimes “had taken place on a different level than the purely sporting one,” said the coach. And: “The big game decisions were correct for me – except for the exclusion of Lazzari, which was a wrong decision.” Lazio’s “Mister”, Maurizio Sarri, meanwhile gave the German team of referees around Sascha Stegemann the buck: “I liked the game, unfortunately we couldn’t win it due to some refereeing decisions that made both teams nervous.”
Responsible for this was William Böving, who put together his first double pack as an initial bench press. “It shows the quality and fighting spirit we have as a team. We showed great character,” said Sturm’s offensive man, presumably meaning himself. “For me, his reaction is impressive. He was incredibly focused and was absolute for me ‘Man of the Match'”, Ilzer praised, knowing that he had let the 19-year-old newcomer stew on the bench against Tirol last time.
Böving, jokingly called “Prince William” in his native Copenhagen, says he never felt the pressure of the two-million price tag after Rasmus Höjlund’s departure. “I’ve always had a lot of pressure in Copenhagen, it’s not something I focus on.” Höjlund, who is now storming for Atalanta Bergamo, sent congratulations to his former companion on his cell phone and, according to Böving, announced himself for a tryst at the upcoming Sturm home game against WAC on Sunday.
Source: Nachrichten
