After a bitter Cup exit

“We don’t need to look for excuses”

(Bild: GEPA pictures/ Gintare Karpaviciute)

(Bild: GEPA pictures/ Gintare Karpaviciute)

(Bild: Tröster Andreas)

Salzburg were self-critical and fair losers after their Cup defeat to Sturm. The total failure of the otherwise strong defense cannot be explained. The next cracker is already scheduled for tomorrow with the Rapid duel.

Licking their wounds was the order of the day on Friday for Salzburg, who are used to success. The bitter 3:4 home defeat after the poor performance in the semi-final of the ÖFB Cup against Sturm has left its mark. The frustration among the Bulls is great. Just like last year, there will be no double victory to celebrate for the champions this year. Graz and Rapid will duel for the title on May 1 in Klagenfurt, just like in 2023. The last two years without a cup triumph for the team from Mozartstadt were in the 2009/2010 (cup winners Sturm) and 2010/2011 (Ried) seasons.

The tragic figure against the Styrians was Salzburg goalkeeper Alex Schlager. The ÖFB team goalkeeper did not look good when conceding three goals and was self-critical: "I should have done a lot of things better." However, it was not just Schlager, but almost the entire team that let the Graz team get the better of them. The usually solid back line was completely out of sorts this time. The reasons for this are hard to pinpoint. "We simply can't concede four goals. The defense has always been stable so far," complained full-back Flavius Daniliuc. Coach Gerhard Struber also clearly emphasized: "We weren't as compact as usual."

Ilzer was delighted
 That's why the Kuchler was a fair loser afterwards. "We have to congratulate Sturm on a well-deserved win." Sporting director Bernhard Seonbuchner also made it clear: "We don't need to make excuses, we didn't put in our best possible performance."

Unsurprisingly, the mood at Sturm was completely different. Half an hour after the final whistle, the players were still being celebrated by the 3,000 or so fans who had traveled with them. "We already knew before the game that we were going to the final," said David Schnegg. Coach Christian Ilzer was delighted with his team's performance: "It was a great soccer festival. There hasn't been a game like this in Austria for many, many years."

Salzburg must now look ahead and concentrate on the championship. The next cracker awaits tomorrow (17, live on Sky) - Rapid will visit the Salzach.

Kjaergaard is out
They want to show a different face against their arch-rivals. "I think it's great that it's about to continue. We have the opportunity to do better than we did against Sturm," says Seonbuchner, who is looking forward to the home classic.

Maurits Kjaergaard will not be involved on Sunday. The Dane was substituted shortly before the end of the cup tie due to injury and has pain in his thigh. Struber was not yet able to assess his absence on Friday: "We haven't yet taken a picture. Mau is a regular player, his absence hurts." The fit Luka Sucic, who also scored against Sturm, is expected to start in his place tomorrow.