Favoured by the Viennese guests, who wanted to play along and actually put on a better display, at least in terms of play, than the final score would suggest, a highly attractive Bundesliga match unfolded at the Red Bull Arena from the very first minute.
But it was also a game that was virtually decided by half-time. Haris Tabakovic netted twice in typical top-striker fashion, and in between, Nikolas Veratschnig, with his first Bundesliga goal of the season for the "Bulls", proved that he hadn't already used up all his ammunition in pre-season.
All the goals were beautifully worked, and overall Röhl saw an "outstanding performance with the ball. Today I really praised the team for their ball possession, because it wasn't just possession for possession's sake, but it was truly purposeful."
Nevertheless, there is criticism
Immediately after the break, Edmund Baidoo finally silenced the quiet green-and-white hopes. Shortly after, Matthias Seidl scored a magnificent long-range consolation goal, but Karim Konate restored the original lead with a late super-sub goal.
"The conceded goal always bothers me as a coach. Recently after a throw-in against Austria, now after a corner - we need to stay more alert there," Röhl remains critical nonetheless.
Röhl: "We still need to suffer more"
He also didn't like everything about the play against the ball: "We still need to suffer more there, especially with regard to Europe, that's important."
Ultimately, after a game that was largely a gala performance, one can "briefly enjoy it for a moment," according to Röhl. He states: "It's fun to see the joy of playing."
The audience is also getting involved again
The 12,153 fans in the Red Bull Arena also had a great time, repeatedly giving their team standing ovations and applause – the sporting upswing slowly seems to be spilling over to the audience.
"At the season opening, we still had around 7,000 in the stadium. We are working our way up piece by piece," Röhl also sees a positive development. "It's important that the fans go home and say: 'Something is happening here. We are seeing beautiful goals and attractive football.'"
Centre-back Valentin Zabransky adds: "The fans' support was incredible. I'm all the happier that we could reward them with five goals."
Squad is both high-quality and deep
Overall, the development in Salzburg, after the past years of crisis, is more than obviously moving in the right direction.
The completely new squad is both high-quality and deep. "The key is that we don't just have eleven players, but 21 whom I can rotate. We can add something extra with substitutions, instead of losing quality," Röhl knows.
Röhl: "The blend is key"
On the one hand, there are the outstanding new signings like - to name just two - Haris Tabakovic or Bartosz Mazurek; already established players like Edmund Baidoo or Karim Konate are performing significantly better under Röhl than under his predecessors; and as the icing on the cake, two Austrian homegrown players, Christian Zawieschitzky and Valentin Zabranksy, are performing at an incredibly high level.
"The blend is what makes it currently. When you also see how sharp the guys are who don't start. No one feels disappointment, everyone wants to be part of the team. That's a lot of fun," Röhl beams.
Finally a real team again
Die Kabine wächst immer mehr zusammen.
It can already be said that the young coach has succeeded in addressing a major problem of recent years: forming a real team out of many talented individual players.
Röhl on this: "The dressing room is growing together more and more; there's genuine joy in the dressing room after every victory. When I see how the boys celebrate together, my heart laughs."
Röhl: "...that's what distinguishes very good teams"
However, there isn't much time for celebration, as the obligatory ÖFB Cup fixture against SKN St. Pölten is already scheduled for next Sunday.
"In three days, we have to be back and deliver. That's what distinguishes very good teams," says Röhl.
The Salzburgers are currently undoubtedly on the best path to finally becoming exactly that again: a very good team.
