Salzburg coach after 0-2 against Sociedad: “We learned that today”

For Red Bull Salzburg’s players and coaches, one thing was certain on Tuesday evening: an “unprincipled” first half cost the Bulls a better result in the Champions League home game against Real Sociedad, and even an increase in performance after half-time couldn’t change the 2-0 deficit . “We have to be there from the first minute, we learned that hard today,” said midfielder Mads Bidstrup.

In the promotion race, anything is still possible after two games.

In front of 28,227 spectators in the home arena, something unusual happened after kick-off: the ambush-like aggressiveness with which a favorable game had been forced in the 2-0 opening win in Lisbon did not take effect. The calm and technically strong fifth-placed La Liga team appeared unimpressed, showed good pressing themselves and brought about a sort of preliminary decision with the early goals from Mikel Oyarzabal (7th) and Brais Mendez (27th). Even an increase in performance after changing sides couldn’t change anything.

“Made life difficult for yourself”

“It was a really bad first half, without intensity,” said Bidstrup, who was worried about his injured shin and being out of action until the final training session. The Dane attributed the failure not least to the opponent from San Sebastian. “We played against a really good team today, and that’s a bit of their credit. They’re one of the most underrated teams in this Champions League season.”

Gerhard Struber only agreed with this to a limited extent. “They were certainly a really big opponent from Spain, everyone saw what they were capable of doing under pressure in a small space,” said the coach. “But it already had something to do with us today. We made life difficult for ourselves.”

At the beginning, Struber missed all the qualities with which his very young squad could unsettle even top teams. “We didn’t exert the kind of pressure that people know from us,” emphasized the Salzburg native. And that is exactly his eleven’s greatest weapon. “When you prepare for our typical game but then experience it, it’s very difficult for teams to deal with it. And we didn’t do that today,” the 46-year-old noted.

Stepped up a gear

Struber apparently found the right words during the break. “Then you saw that it was difficult against us if we showed our true colors,” he said. “If we go ‘all in’ and are very synchronized, then we’ll get into the final third.” Although Salzburg rarely posed a real threat to score in the second 45 minutes, they did put the Basques in much more trouble and at least gave an idea of ​​alternative outcome scenarios. “We played with more depth, so we can create chances,” confirmed Bidstrup.

Referee Bartosz Frankowski didn’t necessarily give the Bulls much credit that evening either. He declared the penalty after a foul on Roko Simic soon after the restart (48th) obsolete after studying VAR, and Jon Pacheco’s handball in the penalty area (76th) also went unpunished. Even in the first half, a foul by the rushing Simic did not count as preventing an obvious scoring opportunity (15th). “If we had gotten the penalty (immediately after the break, note) it would have been a completely different game,” said central defender Samson Baidoo, who came on for Oumar Solet at half-time. Struber also recognized a “clear hand scene” and “a pull on Simic,” but didn’t want to look for excuses. “All in all, it wasn’t always the game we might have hoped for.”

Thanks to the opening win at Benfica, where the course of the game and luck were in complete contrast to the game against Real, we are still in the race in third place, ahead of point-less Benfica and behind Real and Inter Milan (4 points each). At least third place and international overwintering are our goal. “We’re not in a bad position,” said Baidoo. “We take three points after two games,” confirmed Bidstrup.

Struber had already urged people to stay grounded after the Lisbon coup and remained true to his line on Tuesday. “The game gave us a lot for our learning curve. The need of the hour is balance in all directions. Now you don’t want to feel depressed, just like you shouldn’t become manic after a Lisbon game.”