Kühbauer: “We want to get back to where LASK used to be”

In the 3-1 win against Wisla Kraków, there was a rant from coach Dietmar in the live stream Kuhbauer listen. The Burgenlander apologized immediately afterwards and the club emphasized that the statements had been “discussed and sanctioned internally in all clarity and with appropriate severity”. In addition to LASK, the incident has also been dealt with for ÖFB and Bundesliga because due to the venue of the game, only the Turkish association could initiate proceedings – which seems extremely unrealistic.

This puts the sporting aspect in the foreground, and with it the strong record of LASK since the turn of the year. In nine games, Linzer brought it to seven wins and two draws, and there were no serious injuries. Therefore looks Kuhbauer optimistic about the future. “If everyone stays fit, we can play a good role,” said the ex-team player.

Kick off against Klagenfurt in the cup

The first competition game of the year takes place on Sunday in the cup quarter-finals in front of a home crowd against Klagenfurt. A week later, the league starts with the away match against Altach. After 16 laps, the athletes are twelve points behind Red Bull Salzburg and six points behind Sturm Graz in third place. The place in the top six is ​​secured with seven points six games before the division into championship and qualification groups.

There are many indications that LASK will be back internationally after a year without the European Cup, even if Kuhbauer does not want to raise any high expectations for the time being. “The most important thing is that we get into the upper play-off. Then the cards will be reshuffled.”

Two players on loan from Slavia Prague

In the current transfer window, LASK strengthened selectively. Nigerian attacking man Moses Usor came on loan from Slavia Prague, Kuhbauers A central player’s wish was fulfilled by Ukrainian Maksym Talowiyerov, who was also loaned from Slavia.

Philipp Wiesinger is considered a perceived newcomer. The 28-year-old had been sidelined since April last year due to an inflammation of the pubic bone and an ankle injury. Last Friday he made a half-hour comeback in the friendly against Termalica Nieciecza. “We can’t believe that he’ll be there in a week or two, he’ll need his time. But it’s important that he’s there, he’s doing us a lot of good,” said Kuhbauer.

Wiesinger is one of the few current LASK professionals from the time when Linzer under Oliver Glasner and Valerien Ismael developed into the toughest Salzburg adversary with their aggressive pressing football. “But since then there has been a real change. The players are no longer there for the kind of pressing that they played so well back then. We want to play attractive football, but not in this form because the players were bought differently before me has been,” explained Kuhbauer.

Nevertheless, the claim remains high, emphasized the 51-year-old. “We want to get back to where LASK used to be.” The Black and Whites could definitely have more points on their account, many a game in autumn was not won despite a clear superiority. Kuhbauer takes a pragmatic approach to this. “We lost games that you really can’t lose, but there will always be games like that. Crying doesn’t help, it’s just important that we avoid these mistakes now.”

Thrust through the new stadium

A certain additional motivation from the new stadium could help. In the cup match against Klagenfurt, LASK will be in Pasching for the last time. On February 24, the Raiffeisen Arena in Linz will be inaugurated with the game against Lustenau. “Something like this should make every footballer happy,” said Kuhbauer over the jewelry box. “It will help us, but that doesn’t mean we win every game.”

The 20,000 spectator stadium will also help in economic terms, after all home games can take in significantly more than before in Pasching. It is now difficult to imagine that LASK could be bobbing around on the verge of bankruptcy in the regional league like it was a few years ago. Kühbauer: “The club is on good terms, they have drawn the right conclusions from the past. There will no longer be a LASK in the third division, we are too stable for that.”