Bull Fernando

Samba rocket takes off after a long delay

An important factor for Salzburg: Fernando (right).(Bild: Tröster Andreas)

In 18 months as a Salzburg player, the Brazilian Fernando only played 21 games. However, the striker is now healthy and has shown in recent games that he can be a very important factor for the Bulls. The "Krone" knows how the champions got their "rocket" fit. 

Gerhard Struber puts on a grin and energetically knocks on wood three times. "Every little cog is meshing right now," says the head coach of Bundesliga leaders Salzburg, delighted that he has had another option at his disposal in recent weeks in the form of striker Fernando.

And what an option! The quick-as-an-arrow striker has a built-in guarantee of victory. Whenever he has scored as a Salzburg player, the Bulls have gone on to win. Although it's fair to say that the Brazilian was rarely available.

Fernando has an offbeat style.(Bild: ZVG)

In his 18 months in the city of Mozart, he only played 21 games for the serial champions. In these, he scored ten times and contributed six assists.

Most recently, he scored a brace in the 7:0 win over Austria Lustenau. He wants to prove his good form again not only on Sunday against Austria Klagenfurt, but also in the coming months. "I believe that we have managed to communicate and individualize together in order to be able to assess things well," says Struber. What exactly does that mean? From the head coach to the physios and rehabilitation coach Dominik Urmann, the 25-year-old has managed to get back on track with a training program specially tailored to his needs.

"A winning manner"
Which is why hopes are high that the Samba rocket will ignite permanently after a year and a half delay. "His suffering lasted forever," says Struber, who is delighted that his South American protégé is on the move with such ease. "We have a player back who is not only likeable, but also has a winning manner. And he gives us goals," emphasizes Struber. Who is probably secretly knocking on wood every day to make sure it stays that way in the coming months.