WAC's Wohlmuth at a loss: "I'm already on my fifth manager"

WAC fall apart

The match was emblematic of the Carinthian side's difficult situation. After just 35 minutes, head coach Manfred Schmid reacted with a performance-related double substitution, taking off captain Simon Piesinger among others.

Even after that, the 55-year-old failed to find a working formation. Following another tactical switch to a back four, WAC completely collapsed, conceding three more goals in the final 15 minutes.

Three captains in 90 minutes

Fabian Wohlmuth, who took over the captain's armband as the third player of the evening following the substitutions of Piesinger and Donis Avdijaj, spoke bluntly after the final whistle.

"When you concede six goals here in Hütteldorf, it hurts a lot, of course. That we didn't go into the game as favorites is clear to anyone who can read the table, I think. But conceding six goals, that just shouldn't happen," explained the 24-year-old.

Individual errors were the main factor, he noted: "We pretty much scored the goals against ourselves. Almost before every goal conceded, there was a major individual mistake."

The fact that WAC had to make two changes after just 35 minutes was a tactical decision by the manager. "Of course, it doesn't speak well of us as a team when the manager makes two substitutions as early as the 35th minute," Wohlmuth said.

Wohlmuth: "I'm already on my fifth manager"

The defender was particularly frank when addressing the numerous managerial changes in Wolfsberg. Since his move to the Lavanttal in the summer of 2025, he has already worked under five different head coaches: Didi Kühbauer, Peter Pacult, Ismail Atalan, Thomas Silberberger, and now Manfred Schmid.

"I think I'm already on my fifth manager since I joined WAC, and I haven't even been here a year and a half. So of course it's not down to the manager, but to us players. We have to take responsibility," the key player made clear.

The defender knows the situation has become serious: "We are in a shit situation now. We maneuvered ourselves into it, but the only way out is together."

test — Manfred Schmid ist der fünfte WAC-Coach binnen zwölf Monaten
Foto: ©GEPA

Following the debacle, Manfred Schmid also made no secret of the fact on Sky that his team was completely outclassed for large stretches of the match.

Schmid: "Didn't compete in duels in any system"

"In the first half we still tried to fight along, but in the second half we were completely overwhelmed," analyzed the WAC coach.

The numerous tactical adjustments failed to produce the desired effect. After switching to a back four, his side was completely out of the game.

However, it was not merely a question of formation: "In every system we tried today, we failed to compete in duels."

Schmid was also unhappy with the individual performances of his players. "Many didn't take their opportunity today," the 55-year-old stated. At the same time, he remains convinced that the team is capable of more: "The team has shown that it can play better, like against Sturm Graz."

International break expected to bring turnaround

Now the upcoming international break will be used to get the team back on track. Schmid announced a detailed analysis as well as numerous discussions. In addition, they need to ensure that the players get fresh and fit again.

Wohlmuth sees an important opportunity in the coming weeks: "After the international break come the opponents against whom we have to pick up points."

With just six points from 12 games, WAC remain at the bottom of the table. Since their only win of the season in the opening fixture against Austria Wien, the Carinthian side have now gone eleven Bundesliga games without a victory.

After the break, four league matches await the Wolfsberg side before the winter hiatus. They will hope to finally turn things around against SV Ried (home), Austria Wien (away), Austria Lustenau (home), and Red Bull Salzburg (away).