GAK and the "Five Minutes of Horror"

From GAK's perspective, the derby started perfectly, as sporting director Tino Wawra also sees it: "We actually played a really good derby for half an hour, had everything under control, just as we wanted."

However, in the "five minutes of horror," they let the game slip away, Wawra said: "We were too passive then." In addition, Sturm had "done really well" during this phase, according to the GAK sporting director.

Adding to this for GAK is the shock over Daniil Khudyakov's injury (all info>>>).

test — Daniil Khudyakov musste mit einer Trage abtransportiert werden. Am Abend wurde er bereits operiert.
Foto: ©GEPA

The coach of the "Red Jackets" sees it as a "game-deciding moment" and wishes the Sturm goalkeeper "only the best." Meanwhile, he absolves his player Jacob Italiano of any intent.

"Die Spieler sind auch nur Menschen. Wenn sich ein Spieler schwer verletzt, dann macht das etwas mit dir."

Gerald Scheiblehner

The team had defended poorly after the injury break, but the mental component also played a role: "Players are only human. When a player gets seriously injured, it does something to you."

GAK became more cautious after the match interruption, while SK Sturm "fought more," according to Scheiblehner.

However, the GAK coach does not accept the injury as an excuse for the biggest derby defeat since 2003.

Scheiblehner: "I can't make anything of that"

Off the pitch, GAK fans made negative headlines by throwing a firecracker.

The atmosphere among both fan groups was "very positive," said Scheiblehner, who sharply criticized the disturbances: "The firecracker throw was senseless, I can't make anything of that."

"Such actions can lead to match interruptions, but also to injuries," the GAK coach further adds, "it's simply not worth it and shouldn't happen. We need to take much more responsibility there."

The team must now also take responsibility and show a reaction. This coming Saturday, GAK will be guests at WSG (from 17:00 in the LIVE-TICKER>>>).