LASK versus FC Alashkert – the Conference League game is on, we are reporting live (see ticker below). It’s currently 1-0.
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The intended goal was only briefly discussed the day before the home game in Klagenfurt’s Wörthersee Stadium. LASK is not only plagued by injury concerns, Corona does not let go of the athletes either. With Lukas Grgic and Mamoudou Karamoko, two more professionals tested positive on Tuesday. There are now a total of five actors who gave a positive corona test. Florian Flecker was able to free himself up for Thursday. “The starting point is clear: with a good result, we want to take a step towards the knockout phase. That is the great motivation and a clear goal, ”said coach Andreas Wieland.
He has 16 players against Armenia’s champions, three of whom are goalkeepers. Especially in the defensive department, the staffing level is more than thin. James Holland (Wade) was injured at the beginning of the week, Jan Boller is absent due to a suspension. The long injured Yannis Letard is immediately thrown into the deep end. Alexander Schmidt and Christoph Monschein are back in the attack. As Wieland also noted: If more field players are needed due to injuries, a goalkeeper should also be substituted. With the third keeper Nikolas Polster (19), a man with a good surname is available in an emergency.
LASK won 3-0 two weeks ago in Yerevan. The athletes increased in the second half of the game. The fact that there were then again low blows in the league should not slow down the international vigor. “We can look ahead positively when we look at the performances in the games. They are appealing, ”emphasized Peter Michorl. The midfielder once again emphasized the main problem of his team: the exploitation of chances. “We also have to try to do what we can achieve in between.” LASK scored six goals in the three group games – in the Bundesliga there are 12 in 13 rounds.
A win against Alashkert would also be important in a duel with Tel Aviv. After all, the eight group winners in the Conference League are already in the round of 16. The respective runners-up must compete in a knockout round next February against the third of the Europa League in order to get a place in the round of the best 16. Michorl emphasized that they wanted to achieve the “turnaround” in every game.
The game against WSG Tirol at the weekend is already a little in focus. The trip to Klagenfurt is therefore made by charter. On match day, the plane takes off from Linz-Hörsching in the morning. The team and supervisors will then be picked up by the team bus at Klagenfurt Airport. Wieland showed understanding for any criticism of the approach, which was unusual in times of climate policy. However, the shorter travel time is an important advantage right now. “I can understand the discussion about it, the environmental issue is a very big one. But I think that in our current situation it is necessary that we can gather all our strengths and regenerate well. That’s why the decision was made that way, ”said the 38-year-old.