“I think they just didn’t have their best day,” speculated Leverkusen’s young star Florian Wirtz visibly surprised by the poor performance Salzburg.
Nobody will contradict the double goalscorer after the 5-0 disgrace of the Austrian runner-up, not even Salzburg’s defenders Samson Baidoo: “We played ourselves into shit at the beginning. A team like that quickly takes advantage of that. We weren’t brave in the first 20 minutes, we weren’t 100 percent focused on the game. The opponent was in all aspects and in all phases just better.”
It became even clearer Sky-Expert Andreas Herzog: “Intensity? Nothing at all! Mentality? Nothing at all! A player is swapped after ten minutes, Nene, who doesn’t even have his socks on. That makes Salzburg ridiculous across Europe!” And further: “There were a few situations where you as a coach can only attack your skull.”
What does the trainer say about that? Pep Lijnders: “I accept losing, but I don’t accept the way. Leverkusen was the much better team in all moments of the game – second balls, counter-pressing, pressing. After 15 minutes the game was already over.” The season is probably over Karim Konate. He most likely tore a cruciate ligament and is still being checked today.
By far the best man for Salzburg was the keeper Alexander Schlager. He analyzes the embarrassment as follows: “It was a bit naive how we started there when we thought we could shape the game away in Leverkusen. We cut our fingers a bit, they punished us straight away for it anyway . They got better and better, we got weaker. In the end we still have to say thank you that it only ended 5-0. The way we lost is very bitter, even if I think that today anyway there was nothing to take with you were.”
The final word is heard Sports director Bernhard Seonbuchner even if it almost left him speechless: “I’m almost at a loss for words. I think that today it’s time to say ‘Sorry’ to all the sponsors and all the fans for the disappointment we caused them with this achievement.”
It will be interesting to see what consequences this Salzburg performance will have.