Ingolitsch after top match defeat: "It feels strange"

Disbelief in Graz

"The 3-0 scoreline doesn't reflect the game," summarised central defender Joshua Quarshie. Sturm coach Fabio Ingolitsch saw it similarly: "It feels somewhat strange and wrong when you watch the game from the outside and then see this result."

And the 37-year-old added: "We delivered a great game, were dominant, had control and were more aggressive. We actually steered the game in a direction where we were the team to deliver the lucky punch today," said the head coach.

Nevertheless, they are empty-handed at the end.

Aggressive and tenacious

And that, even though Sturm presented themselves in good form this Sunday evening, giving Salzburg a real fight and especially being the more aggressive team in duels and counter-pressing.

"Our match plan worked well. We never allowed Salzburg to get into their 'New Salzburg' style of play. They strive for ball possession and control. Before the game, it was said that we only wanted to destroy the game. In the end, however, we had more ball possession and control," said Ingolitsch.

Only in the final third did they falter, as so often this season. Compared to the European Cup, Ingolitsch surprisingly deployed Axel Kayombo, who was temporarily on the verge of a move to Turkey, as a lone striker.

That was the plan

The 20-year-old, with his "power" as Ingolitsch confirmed, was supposed to occupy Salzburg's defense. However, with the exception of one long-range shot, the output was lacking.

"We were very often in the final third, had many high ball recoveries through the 4-4-2 against the ball, tried to generate more width and thus get away from the Salzburg players. We succeeded well in that, and then it comes down to decision-making and final efficiency," the coach emphasized the potential for improvement.

The 72nd minute was decisive when Salzburg took the lead through a quick multi-pass attack by Nikolas Veratschnig. After that, the game turned, also with Jürgen Heil's yellow-red card.

Kevin Boma scored from a set-piece (76th minute) and substitute Aboubacar Camara completed a fine attack with an overhead kick off the crossbar (83rd minute).

First Goal Decides It

"The 1-0 was then decisive. This goal is typical of how Salzburg won the game today. Because I believe Niki Veratschnig still doesn't know how he got the ball into the net. But that's football," said Ingolitsch.

Simon Seidl saw it similarly: "In the end, that one goal decided it. It's important to stay focused after such a goal, which we somewhat slept through. Of course, you then get the red card and the set-piece."

Praise for the Performance

Nevertheless, Ingolitsch didn't want to mope after the game. In a tough week, they secured a win against LASK, drew against Stade Rennes, and now suffered a defeat in Salzburg.

"For the first time in my life, I'm in a situation where I can compliment my team after a 0-3 defeat. The way we played the last three games against these opponents, we made a statement."

Although the gap to the top has grown to seven points with this defeat, the final reckoning will only come in spring.