FC Salzburg's start to the league phase is successful.
Against Levski Sofia, there was a narrow 1-0 away victory (to the match report >>>) - which satisfies coach Danny Röhl: "To perform like this in the first Europa League away game makes me very positive," he said in an interview with "Sky".
Against a team that relies heavily on possession, they pressed very well, according to Röhl: "We didn't give them the opportunity to fully develop their game."
The ultimately decisive goal came before halftime, with Haris Tabakovic clinically converting a deflected pass, after Bartosz Mazurek had set up Dominik Schmid brilliantly. "Often it's that 'nose' (instinct), that quick reaction," Tabakovic told "Sky", he had the required instinct. For him, it was his first goal in a European Cup league phase. "Of course, it means something to me, every goal means something to me," he said, somewhat unimpressed.
"Can Kill Them Sooner"
In the second half, Salzburg had opportunities to seal the deal - and left them unused. That was clear to those involved. The killer instinct was missing in some moments, said coach Röhl. "There are indeed a few situations where you can kill them off sooner," said goalkeeper Christian Zawieschitzky.
He is the youngest regular goalkeeper in the Europa League ("I didn't even know that at the beginning"), was just called up to the national team ("Apparently, it was a good week. I value it greatly, I am very grateful that I get to experience all of this. But I don't overemphasize it."), and he kept a clean sheet in Sofia.
Praise for Two Duos
"We suffered, we fought as a team in a cauldron," Tabakovic said about the second half, when the opponent, backed by their fans, put on considerable pressure. The players in front of him suffered more than he did, Zawieschitzky added. "They performed incredibly strongly and rewarded themselves with a win."
The fact that they presented themselves defensively solid made the coach particularly happy. "We understood how to defend even in a deeper block. That is also very important for Europe; it was also a topic this week." Because what was discussed was also implemented in the aforementioned cauldron ("Röhl: "It was very nice today to have such an atmosphere, it was fun for everyone involved."), Salzburg was also able to survive a power-play phase from Levski.
Tabakovic gave extra praise to central defenders Kevin Boma and Tim Drexler: "Kev and Tim did a super job at the back, they defended everything, including the many crosses - chapeau!"
