Austria’s lust on "two great finals"

Austria had imagined the course of the championship group to be completely different. Everything is so close together because no team really manages to outrun their competitors, and the purple ones can’t take advantage of that.

If you want to sprint for the title, you just need a run, if possible a positive one. But the Viennese have just had difficult, negative weeks and a lean one 1-0 against Hartberg Although it didn’t provide a revelation, it did provide a sense of achievement.

The Violets would like to preserve the chance of taking part in a European competition, but big leaps forward in the table will no longer be possible. There was a bitter defeat against Sturm and LASK, and they also lost twice 1:3 against Salzburg within a few days.

These statistics automatically put title ambitions on the sidelines. In the meantime, a decision was made and the contract of coach Stephan Helm, which was about to expire, was extended. At least a sign of trust and appreciation – late, but still.

Donation fee

The narrow victory over Hartberg was of course less of a treat than more of a light meal. “We shouldn’t complain about the three points. But the intensity wasn’t particularly high,” said the veteran Reinhold Ranftl honest to. captain Manfred Fischer confirmed the impression. “It was exhausting, a tough game, torture at its best.” Nevertheless, one can be proud of the reaction shown.

The players’ reactions demonstrated how much the Austrians have been stuck in their bones and minds over the past few weeks – even if a 1-0 win over Hartberg provides relief. Ranftl would like to do a mini run at the end of the season. “Now two more wins and then we’ll see where we end up.” Above all, they want to give the fans a derby victory next Sunday in Hütteldorf.

Individual highlights

Stephan Helmsaid coach, marveled at the sunset at home in Pamhagen, Burgenland, on Sunday evening and hopes that a star will once again rise for his team in the derby. “Even when we have weak phases, we always manage to achieve highlights like this. Now with the win we have created such a great game again, in the derby at Rapid, where something is always at stake.”

Helm likes to distinguish between results and achievements, although one cannot do without the other. “We caused problems for our opponents in all the games in the championship group,” he sees reasons for the awakening of violet self-confidence. You can keep up with anyone. But the oft-quoted path, which was supposed to point steadily upwards, was not actually followed. At times there was more stagnation than development.

Burgendland duel

In the last round, Austria welcomes LASK, and the Burgenländer Helm welcomes Didi Kühbauer from Burgenland. What if Helm and Austria become a spoilsport for Linz in the title fight? Helm grins: “Didi is already taking away the title of Coach of the Year in Burgenland from me, he won the Cup. He is a personality, an icon that I have known since I was little.”

The Burgenlander helmet would think it would be good if a Burgenlander became champion. The Austria coach Helm definitely wants to beat LASK and thus ensure a conciliatory end to the season.

Including the chance of a European Cup ticket, which would achieve the internal goal and the possibility of additional income on the international stage.