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The Super League will resume play this weekend. We take a close look at last season’s top 6.
Legend:
How long will they still be wearing the shirts of their home clubs?
Fabian Rieder and Ardon Jashari are likely to leave YB and Lucerne respectively.
Keystone/Peter Klaunzer
- YB (placement last season: 1st)
Coach Raphael Wicky got the double in his first season with the Bernese. That raises expectations. In contrast to last season, however, YB must be able to deal with the European load again. The squad seems ready for it. Lukasz Lakomy has already made provisions for a possible departure of Fabian Rieder. In the friendlies, the Pole proved to be dangerous.
René Weiler did not come to manage Alain Geiger’s legacy. The new coach in Geneva has ambitions. Defending the 2nd place from last season might be difficult. But Servette would like to build on the glorious past and re-establish itself at the top of the league. A good start to the season will be important: Immediately after the Super League opener away against GC, the first leg in the second qualifying round of the Champions League against Genk is coming up.
In contrast to the competitor from Geneva, Lugano relies on consistency in the coaching position. Mattia Croci-Torti has a squad that has not changed much compared to last season – with the departures of the two defenders Fabio Daprelà and Ousmane Doumbia likely to carry weight. Chicago Fire’s partner club is guaranteed income from the European Cup. It is not ideal that you have to switch to Zurich for the European home games and thus have to put up with additional hardships.
Like Rieder at YB, Ardon Jashari is still with Lucerne – but probably not for long, FC Basel really wants the Nati player. Even if the captain should disembark, the FCL can be expected again. With Teddy Okou and Kevin Spadanuda, the central Swiss have made two promising transfers. In addition, the young wild ones, who, like the new regular goalie Pascal Loretz, have already proven their suitability for the Super League, are burning for confirmation. Under coach Mario Frick, the talents can develop in peace.
For Basel, the new season begins more or less as the old one ended – with English weeks. Not an easy starting position for the “Bebbi”, who are still in the identification phase after numerous significant departures. The collective around neo-trainer Timo Schultz will have to deliver immediately. Much is expected of new French striker Thierno Barry, but he has big shoes to fill: Zeki Amdouni will be difficult to replace.
Is the house blessing crooked in St. Gallen? The St. Gallen daily newspaper reported about atmospheric disturbances between coach Peter Zeidler and Captain Lukas Görtler in preparation for the new season. The two denied a break, and the question still arises: Have the ideas of the longest-serving Super League coach worn out among the players? The dress rehearsal before the start against Basel does not indicate that: there was a 6-1 win against Villarreal, with returnee Betim Fazliji playing strongly.