Concept coach Röhl explains: "When the ball comes from the ball-side from outside inwards, we want diagonal runs into the box. We want to constantly threaten the last line of defense with runs, so you ultimately have two or three players who can pick up the second ball."
Match abandonment was a possibility
However, not everything went according to plan on Thursday. The "Bulls" started the match well, but were stopped shortly after by heavy Salzburg rain. Play could only resume after a good two-hour interruption.
"We didn't know if it would continue or not. For a short time, there was even talk of the match being abandoned. We were already discussing what time we would kick off tomorrow," reveals Röhl.
The long break was used to analyze the 15 minutes of play already completed and to make small tactical adjustments. After the restart, Salzburg continued to dominate, and while clear chances were scarce, the opponent was kept completely harmless.
Plenty of room for improvement in the second half
After the change of ends, this became increasingly difficult. Pafos striker Lele almost took advantage of a blunder by Dominik Schmid after a good hour, but young goalkeeper Christian Zawieschitzky single-handedly prevented it.
"A brilliant situation from 'Chris', he handled it excellently. You could have fallen behind there, which would not have been deserved at that point," Röhl says, taking his hat off.
Then it was about weighing the risk and stabilizing the defense again, according to the 37-year-old. Due to injury, the German had to bring on his two top substitutes, Konate and Tabakovic, relatively early shortly after. The outcome is known.
Zawieschitzky's match plan for the second leg: "Preferably run them over"
Now Salzburg can fly to Cyprus for the second leg with a good, but not outstanding, starting position.
In recent years, more than one big name has come unstuck at Pafos' alternative stadium in Limassol - for example, last season Pafos managed to beat Slavia Prague and FC Villarreal "at home" in the Champions League, and against Hajduk Split, the Cypriot Cup winner only last week turned a 0-2 first-leg defeat into an advancement.
"We know what awaits us in Cyprus: A heated dance. Nevertheless, we are capable of achieving a clean sheet with our tools and advancing," Röhl is convinced.
Goalkeeper Zawieschitzky adds, with his usual confidence, to "ServusTV": "We must not rest on our lead. We must always keep going and preferably run them over."
