Football: Stöger Makes Home Debut as Rapid Coach Against Tuzi
In his competitive debut in front of a home crowd as Rapid coach, Peter Stöger hopes for a European Cup evening without major moments of tension. The Hütteldorf team is defending a 2-0 lead from the first duel in Montenegro in the second-round return leg of the Conference League qualification against FK Dečic Tuzi. Cheered on by their own fans, the planned advancement to the next round is to be realized on Thursday (8:30 PM/live ORF 1).
Return match against Tuzi awaits
"There are no two opinions that with the starting position, nothing should happen to us with a serious approach. But it still has to be played first," said Stöger, who issued a warning on Wednesday after the announcement of further match dates in the European Cup by Rapid's press officer. "I am not an overly cautious person, but everything that is communicated externally can eventually make its way into the locker room, that it's a walkover."
In the event of advancement, Dundee United will likely await the Green-Whites, as the Scots won the first leg against UNA Strassen from Luxembourg 1-0. The first leg would already be on August 7 in Vienna. Markus Katzer had no doubts that the Montenegrin cup winner can be bent. "We can assume that we will achieve advancement. But only if we are well prepared and take it 100 percent seriously," said the Rapid sports director.
Stöger unbeaten so far
Stöger started his era on the green-white coaching bench with two clean-sheet victories, but in both games, the 59-year-old still saw plenty of room for improvement. In the first leg in Tuzi, the coach would have liked more consistency, more activity, and more goal opportunities from his team. The cup duel against the regional league team Wacker Innsbruck (1:0) was also much more exciting than hoped. Especially the processes in the offense need to be automated again after the loss of the offensive key players Guido Burgstaller, Isak Jansson, and Dion Beljo, as all three goals resulted from set pieces.
Few training sessions in the English weeks and possible further new signings complicate this endeavor. However, Stöger is not stressing, as it is now important to first find a good mix of stability and results. "We are demanding a lot from the guys at the moment," said the experienced coach, who has to do without the still suspended Serge-Philippe Raux-Yao and Mamadou Sangaré against Tuzi. Stöger also did not want to commit to a basic formation yet. Whether 4-4-2, 4-3-3, 4-2-3-1, or with three defenders, everything could work, he emphasized. But: "It will take its time."
Rapid's Squad Planning Underway
The squad planning for the green-whites is not yet complete, with further signings expected in the coming weeks. "We still want to be active, and we are already relatively far along with one or two topics," said Katzer. According to consistent media reports, the 22-year-old Cameroonian Martin Ndzie from the Israeli Premier League club FC Ashdod is set to join in Vienna-Hütteldorf for the defensive midfield. A winger is also expected to join.
This season, Rapid is also being accompanied by a camera team, as the TV channel Sky is filming a documentary about the traditional club from Hütteldorf. "I think the documentary is cool because it doesn't just necessarily concern the team. It's not a personality show, but the whole club is being scrutinized, and people who have an important part in the club's development also come in front of the camera," explained Stöger.
(APA/Red)
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