Countdown for Hinteregger Comeback: "Want to Let Actions Speak"
Martin Hinteregger wants to "let actions speak" instead of words. The now engaged ex-team player at Austria Klagenfurt has declined countless interview requests from abroad and domestically, according to club information, before his comeback in the Bundesliga. "On the one hand, because I want to be back on the field and deliver my performance. On the other hand, because I don't want to have this prominent position within the team," says the 32-year-old. The hopes in him are high.
Kick-off Against Salzburg
For the Carinthian, the start of spring brings a reunion with a former employer. Red Bull Salzburg will be visiting Wörthersee on Sunday (14.30). At the "Bulls", Hinteregger had made his breakthrough to professional, won five championship titles and four cup victories. At Eintracht Frankfurt, he surprisingly ended his career after the Europa League victory in 2022.
"Hinti" often made headlines, including in football retirement at his home club Sirnitz in the Carinthian lower class. After a dispute with a spectator, Hinteregger is due in court on February 19, a criminal complaint for assault has been filed against him. Hinteregger is presumed innocent.
Successful Klagenfurt
The past weeks have been successful in terms of sports. Austria won all six preparation matches, Hinteregger was always part of the defensive trio and also scored a goal. Günther Gorenzel speaks of a real reinforcement. "I really like his attitude, he really wants to know it again. Physically, he is now almost at the level where he was in Frankfurt," Klagenfurt's sports managing director reported about the 67-time international.
Hinteregger is expected to plug the holes in the defence - 35 goals conceded in 16 rounds is a negative record in the league - as well as drive the game forward. "In addition, we hope that he will take on a leadership role and that the young players in the squad will grow and mature alongside him," said Gorenzel.
Question Mark for Hinteregger
Hinteregger himself noted on the club's homepage before the last week of preparation that he was quite surprised by the rapid progress. The last piece of the puzzle for him was match practice. "Heated duels on the field, with which I can push myself. I don't know yet how I will cope with that. I know that I have to function immediately because we have no time, we absolutely have to score points and the expectations of me are huge. But it will probably take a few games until I am fully in the rhythm."
For the Klagenfurt team, the main aim in the six rounds until the points are divided is to distance themselves from the bottom of the table. With an eight-point deficit to Blau-Weiß Linz, a place in the top six is no longer realistic.
"I Shouldn't Let This Happen to Me"
With Hinteregger, a man who still speaks his mind returns to the league. This was also shown by his recent statements about his court case in the Kronenzeitung. In it, he reported about insults far below the belt that had preceded his "shove". It was a mistake that he did not confront the man with words much earlier. "I shouldn't let this happen to me, with all that I have already experienced in my career - even if he deserved it to a certain extent," said Hinteregger. The person affected had confirmed to his goalkeeper after the incident that he was fine and then ordered beers in the canteen. "So I wonder if his headache the next day was from my shove or from the last beer. It's obvious that he just wants money."
(APA/Red)
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