It was a difficult year, “said the LASK coach Andreas Wieland after the 31st and last competitive game in autumn. Due to the 3-2 at Austria, the championship group remains at least within reach before the last four rounds of the basic round of the Bundesliga in spring. The victory probably finally fixed that he will remain a coach. In the seventh round he had from Dominik Thalhammer taken over and stabilized the sinking ship. For a place in the top six, however, a lot has to change after a lost football year.
Lost guiding culture: With the departures of Gernot Trauner and Reinhold Ranftl LASK lost not only quality but also mentality. Convenience crept in – instead of taking one step more than necessary on and off the field as before. It starts with additional shifts in the weight room and ends with a diet suitable for competitive sports. The superior fitness that once distinguished the LASK has already been neglected on an individual basis.
Lost top performers: Not only were Trauner and Ranftl missing, too Marko Raguz did not get up after tearing his cruciate ligament in autumn. Andreas Gruber is on his way back from the same injury. Philipp Wiesinger and Petar Filipovic missed half of the games due to injury. In addition, there were countless muscle injuries and corona breaks. In the Europa Conference League game against Alashkert, only 14 outfield players remained.
Lost identity: Thalhammer wanted to train LASK to have more possession. The squad was geared towards the pressing style, the project failed. Wieland began his mission to lead LASK back to its old strength with a mortgage: ball possession football, for which the team was set in preparation, requires different physical conditions in contrast to sprint-intensive pressing. The players still had the necessary processes in their heads, but their legs no longer provided the necessary paths. This explains, among other things, the often big differences between two halves. The one step less opened gaps on the defensive.
Lost efficiency: LASK had the second most goal chances, exploitation was the big problem. The athletes were the only team left without a header. The former strength in standard situations is gone. The misses cost confidence and points.
Lost hands: It is difficult for anyone to gain access in a troubled team. Of the ten new ones there was only one Sascha Horvath a win. The permanently injured Christoph Monschein turned out to be a flop. Dario Maresic In addition to match practice, there was also a lack of match fitness. LASK will make improvements with at least one defender and one striker. If the entrances strike and the top performers become fit, the entry into the master group can succeed with the best cast.
Source: Nachrichten
