Image: Dietmar Stiplovsek (APA/DIETMAR STIPLOVSEK)
The performance in the happy 2:1 in Altach was mixed. For Sturm coach Christian Ilzer, this had to do primarily with the “top performance” of the opponent. The many discussions about possible departures, including failed transfers, have certainly also contributed. Alexander Prass was denied a transfer to French first division club Lorient. “In the end, it was the case for us that Lorient wasn’t the last willingness to go through with it. This chewing gum story had been going on for so long that we said Alex would stay here,” explained Sturm’s sporting director Andreas Chic in the Sky interview. Prass himself spoke of a “not so easy” last week because there was just a lot going on in the room. “It was freer again today because a decision was made,” the offensive player looks ahead.
Despite a medical check-up at FC Augsburg, Gregory Wüthrich did not make a change. The people of Graz couldn’t help it. “We would have made his dream of the German Bundesliga possible for him, but it didn’t work out in the end. While he was on his way to Augsburg, one or the other transfer happened, when there were other opportunities and there are more nothing to say about that,” said Schicker. Wüthrich didn’t want to give an interview after the game, but had already vented his anger via social media: “I got to know the not so nice sides of the business,” it read.
Ilzer also emphasized that his team had recently had issues that would not have been easy to put up with. “It wasn’t the easiest of challenges for some, but they were mastered very professionally and we worked out a brutal victory together,” the Styrian summed up. Hardly any ways were found to break up the compact block of the extremely aggressive Altacher and we were really lucky in one or the other situation. In the end it was the third win in a row. “A lucky win, but overall it still has an air of class about it.”
Gold goalscorer Mohammed Fuseini was substituted on shortly before the 2-1 (91st). “If there is space, then there is no more ideal player than Mo Fuseini,” emphasized Ilzer. Captain Stefan Hierländer, among others, had come off the bench beforehand. A lot of quality for reservists – that’s also one of the success factors of Sturm. Only in 2017 (18) was the club after six rounds with more points than the 16 that “look nice on the outside”. A good record before crucial weeks. After the international break, the home game against Salzburg awaits, then the entry into the Europa League follows. “We have difficult tasks ahead of us,” says Sturm’s coach.
With their performance, the people of Altach underscored that they are on the right track. “I think we were the better team for the full 90 minutes, maybe the better one,” coach Joachim Standfest summed it up. A lack of callousness and a lack of luck prevented a point from being won. In addition, the Vorarlbergers struggled with referee decisions. The VAR was called on three times in important situations, only once when Paul Koller equalized (78th) there was a happy ending.
Even before that, Altach would have liked to have had a hand penalty. Even earlier, a goal from Atdhe Nuhiu was rightly disallowed for being a millimeter offside. “It has increased in the last games for us, and if you follow what has happened to us all season, then the emotions just run high,” explained Standfest. Mike-Steven Bähre saw it the same way: “We were denied six goals in the first six games and we didn’t get a penalty. It hurts.”
It was annoying because a win was a possibility. “It was a top performance from everyone, but you also need luck to defeat such a top opponent,” said Standfest. In two weeks it is important to follow up in a duel with promoted Blau-Weiss Linz.
Source: Nachrichten
