Sturm is a guest at WAC – Klagenfurt at LASK

“We will adapt as much as possible to the program, which we cannot influence in any way,” Elzer said. The preparations were very intense and made a clear highlight with the 2-1 victory in a friendly match against Galatasaray Istanbul. “This was our best match including the tournament group,” said the coach. “We kept our strength, found very good solutions with and without the ball and implemented most of the plan.” It is important for him “that the team reaches its maximum and shows hunger. Especially in the German League, we are challenged to improve”.

At WAC, on the other hand, there was a major turmoil after the pre-season, which finished in fourth place. Not only did divorced director Michael Lendl, who resigned after four years and moved to the second tier of GAK, but also goalkeepers Alexander Kovler, Christopher Wernitznigg, Sven Spangler, Eliel Peretz and Joram Gurbelidze. In addition to the loaned players who had to return to their original clubs, a total of ten professionals left the club. That corresponds to eight newcomers.

The coach remained the same. Robin Dott must now put together a new team. “At least we got through all the problems in the preparations. It remains to be seen where we end up,” said the German, who also worked with the regime change and used a three-man defense. “But I’m not the one who puts order above everything else,” Dutt says. If necessary, you can immediately switch to the back quadrant: “Everyone can do it.”

At LASK, coach Dietmar Koebauer, who took charge in the league final, promised to improve after eighth place. With the squad also changed in terms of personnel, but at the moment without a king transfer from Robert Zolge, the top six are the obvious target. The climber from Carinthia had landed there abruptly.

For Kühbauer, Klagenfurt shouldn’t be taken more seriously than last season. “It wouldn’t be helpful to say, they lost good players,” Kohbauer said. “We’ve also lost good players” in connection with the departures of Andreas Gruber, James Holland, Peter Filippovich and Marco Ragoz, who of course have rarely played in recent times, Burgenlander said.

The recent 9-1 victory in the cup over third-division Schauz showed that new deals weren’t bad. Striker Marin Ljubicic has tied a triple bundle, indicating that the last malignant storm lull may be over. Former defender Filip Stojkovic also scored a goal against Schwaz. And in the midst of the defence, it seems that German Philippe Zeers is already ready. “We have good new deals, the atmosphere is very good,” said Kohbauer, happy before the start.

Klagenfurt arrived with an 8:1 win recommendation in the Cup on the third division Admira Dornbirn. Leaving the pillars Patrick Grill, Torgy Gimbassi and Alex Timosey Anderson seems to be absorbable. “We were there from the first minute,” said coach Peter Bacolt, whose team drew 0-0 with Southampton on Monday. “We’ve had very good transitional moments, where the spaces that were available to us have been put to very good use and used very well.”

In any case, striker Andrew Irving is also an option against LASK, and the Scotsman’s work permit arrived on Friday. “We are definitely entering the season with a positive feeling,” Bacolt said.