A derby winner, but two proud coaches

“We are number one in Linz!” Long after the final whistle of the city derby in the Bundesliga, the LASK supporters in the fan zone got drunk at 2-0. The athletes confidently lived up to their role as favorites against Blau-Weiss Linz after the start of the season without a win.

“The pressure was very high,” admitted LASK captain Robert Zulj, who turned the volume up to 2-0 after a double one-two with Lenny Pintor (49th) in the sold-out stadium. “You could see our mentality,” said Sascha Horvath immediately after the final whistle. “We are derby winners! What more do you need?”

“I go to bed satisfied because I’m very proud of my team,” explained coach Thomas Sageder after his first Bundesliga win. His team managed to bring the good training performance to the pitch. “The way Peter Michorl stepped on the gas this week – you can’t get past that,” he gave the midfielder as an example. Michorl was still on the bench against Sturm Graz the week before.

Was the derby victory the liberation? Sageder: “Despite all the euphoria, we’re still a long way from where we want to be.” At least in the right direction, LASK Philipp Ziereis brought the 1-0 (12th). “I had almost too much time to think because I was so free. I hit it with my left hand – either he goes out of the stadium or he goes in,” said the 30-year-old, who spoke to his ex’s fans after the game -Klubs St. Pauli chatted, who had drawn attention to themselves with a flag of the German second division club, their second professional station after Regensburg. “I scored exactly one goal for each club, for LASK there are now three.” The opening goal in the derby was followed by the first mood swing. “I also played the Hamburg Derby, which wasn’t too bad either. The Linz Derby is not far behind. The number of spectators is a bit smaller, but the atmosphere was outstanding.”

“A difference in quality”

1,900 blue and white fans who comforted their team after the final whistle also contributed to this. “I’m very proud,” said defeated coach Gerald Scheiblehner. Because the promoted team made it difficult for LASK and reached into their tactical bag of tricks: with a back four, with Marco Krainz guarding LASK captain Robert Zulj, with different formations as soon as possession changed. “It was clear that we had to do everything we could to surprise our opponents.”

The surprise effect worked initially and at least slowed the athletes down later. His team “solved the tactical requirement for LASK possession in 4-1-3-2 well. We won the ball a lot in interesting zones.” In a 4-3-3 on the ball, the LASK defense could hardly get through.

“If there was a goal at 0:2, then a draw would not have been deserved, but it was possible,” said Scheiblehner. “You saw that there is a difference in quality in many phases of the game.” And a speed disadvantage “in some duels,” he added. “The pace is a big difference. We have to get used to that,” said midfielder Tobias Koch.

At home against Rapid on Sunday and away against Sturm Graz six days later, Blau-Weiss Linz wants to pick up the pace. Scheiblehner: “We want to annoy the teams that are up there – and learn so that we can win.”