Because of the sixth game in a row without a win, Rapid has to sit in detention: The 1:2 in the direct duel of the last championship group round in the Bundesliga cost the European Cup ticket, the Viennese must now secure a place in the Europa Conference League in fifth place via the play-off work out the final. The first season without a European Cup since 2019/20 is imminent.
“It’s actually unbelievable how you can lose a game like that. It was kind of a self-fall that didn’t happen to us for the first time,” said coach Ferdinand Feldhofer about the defeat at his old place of work. Goal scorer Marco Grüll, on the other hand, did not attribute the extension of the season to coincidence or bad luck. “It was exactly the same as many games before. If that happens once, okay, but if you screw it up ten times in a season, it has to be something to do with quality.”
Wolfsberg secured a place in the Europa Conference League with the win. “It’s nice when you have such a departure as a player,” said captain Michael Liendl with tears in his eyes after his last game for WAC. He doesn’t want to end his career. “I want to play at least another year.”
Wiener Austria celebrates
Tears of joy also flowed at Austria. Nobody would have thought the Viennese could take third place before the season, now a European autumn with millions in revenue is certain: The violets play third in the play-off for the Europa League, if they fail, it would continue in the group phase of the Europa Conference League. “The coming season won’t be any easier,” said coach Manfred Schmid. Because Markus Suttner and Alexander Grünwald end their careers, more players will leave the club.
Source: Nachrichten
