Even a 5:1 Leaves Room for Criticism! "Something Like That Can Change a Game"

There's no such thing as a "guaranteed win."

After eight minutes, however, Rapid's clash with Austria Lustenau felt very much like a game that came very close to being one.

Not only did the Hütteldorfers underscore their role as favorites in the opening minutes – the "how" of the first two goals also exuded a naturalness that allowed for no other conclusion.

Even More Goals!

After 90 minutes, the players had to accept criticism that some further chances should have been converted. That's a given with a 5:1 score. But whoever expected satisfaction and exuberance waited in vain.

"I'm satisfied with the first 25 minutes, that was outstanding football right from the start: With the pace and flow we want. That was us," Johannes Hoff Thorup began. Even though he also didn't like the efficiency.

Matthias Seidl also addressed this: "There were some moves that looked great, but in the end, nothing came of them. If you win by such a margin, it's alright."

For Jannes Horn, the first 30 minutes were "almost outstanding, completely dominant."

In Other Games, That Goes Wrong

But then. Even before halftime, carelessness had crept in, a moment of sloppiness from Serge-Philippe Raux-Yao, rectified by Niklas Hedl.

"At halftime, I just told the boys that such moments can change a game. No matter how big your lead is and how much you create, it only takes one bad decision," Rapid's coach warned.

And then soon had to watch as the Vorarlbergers, who had been completely out of the game until then, scored a goal. And had another opportunity.

In the end, nothing significant, also because the score became even clearer. "After the 1-0, 2-0, 3-0, last year we might have sat back a bit, but this year we're doing things completely differently," Horn was proud.

But for his coach, a reminder remained: "There is always room for improvement."

In the standings, not really: 27 points from ten games is, purely mathematically, very close to perfection. Only five teams before them won nine of their first ten matches – and all of them later became champions.

Even Poorer Performances Wouldn't Be a Problem This Way

That's just a side note. After all, not even a third of the season has been played yet.

Currently, however, Rapid enters every match as the favorite. But that only counts if this status is confirmed on the pitch: "My most important job these days is to keep the boys on their toes. I know we have the quality, but I push them every day. Because the moment we stop doing that, things will go in the other direction," Hoff Thorup emphasized.

A great responsibility for him, he admitted: "But I have to be completely honest, I simply love watching my team play football. How they support each other, how they celebrate together. As long as this trust is within the squad, we could even afford to have poor performances without it affecting us too much."

And Horn said it "gives us a great deal of courage, the kind of football we are currently playing."