End of the season for Starkl

“The condition is just depressing”

Dominik Starkl (right) suffered a torn cruciate ligament

(Bild: GEPA pictures/ Manuel Binder)

Dominik Starkl's cruciate ligament rupture further dampens the mood in Amstetten. The first home win in a year must come on Friday against Sturm Graz II in the second division, otherwise the chance of not finishing last is gone for good.

A knock on the knee, unpleasant, but I'll be fine on Friday. Must go . . ."

The confidence that Dominik Starkl had radiated at the start of the week gave way to brutal reality yesterday. The aforementioned knock in Sunday's game against Lafnitz resulted in a torn posterior cruciate ligament according to the MRI examination. A bitter pill to swallow for the veteran, who tore his cruciate ligament four years ago against Admira and is now unable to help Amstetten grasp the final straw in their fight against relegation tomorrow. A home win against Sturm II, the first in exactly one year, is needed to possibly overtake another team in the second division table. And if two clubs do not get their license, then ...

Dominik Starkl

(Bild: GEPA pictures/ Avni Retkoceri)

This mind game alone shows how messed up the season is for the bottom team. Starkl's injury fits in like a glove. Because now the most experienced player, who has made 17 appearances in the starting eleven this season, is also out. "The situation is just depressing," sighs the 30-year-old, "first you get a whistle week after week, even though we were clearly better than our opponents in some games, and now this injury."

Next relegation threat
Two years ago, Starkl was relegated with Admira, was no longer given a new contract in Südstadt and moved to Mostviertel. Where he now faces the next Waterloo. The future of the ex-Rapidler is completely open, his contract in Amstetten expires at the end of the season. Eastern League? "Why not - but now it's time to get healthy again."