March 2007 World Soccer Magazine
Saturday 3rd March 2007
Salzburg Domination - How Long Can It Last?
This months issue continues to look at the Red Bull takeover in Salzburg and the problems it could potentially cause in Austrian football. Following from last months interview with Giovanni Trapattoni, we sat down with Sturm Graz manager Luka Storburg.
Welcome Luka, this is your first managerial job in football, how are you finding it?
LS - To be honest, not bad at all. It's great to have been given the opportunity to manage my boyhood club and it's exhilarating to be involved in the day to day running of such a prestigious club.
Your side have had a good first half of the season, what were your expectations at the start of the year?
LS - I sat down with Hans Rinner (the chairman) at the beginning of the year and was told that he felt if we avoided relegation, the season would be deemed a success. Now, with the points penalty we had imposed on us, I agreed with him, however after pre season and having spent time with the squad, I truly believed we could press on up the league. We put out a great performance last week against Ried and I hope we can continue this into some big games over the next few weeks.
Sitting 5th at the Winter Break can you give us a prediction for where you will end the season?
LS - I'm not one for predictions. I prefer to take each match as it comes and look for improvements in every performance. Only then can we climb up the table.
Looking at Trapattoni's Salzburg side, do you see a way of defeating them tomorrow?
LS - It will be as tough as ever against Salzburg. They have a lot of quality throughout their squad, but we've beaten them once already this season and there's no reason why we can't beat them again. Home advantage gives us every chance. I was pleased with our performance against Ried last week and will look for the players to provide a similar standard in the Salzburg game.
Financially backed by Red Bull, with a host of quality foreign stars and a world class manager, can you see a way of stopping Salzburg in the next few years?
LS - Yes. Don't get me wrong, they are in a substantially better position than anyone else in this league. People say money doesn't always buy you success but I believe this only applies to the top leagues in the world. In the Austrian division, you can attract quality using these funds. And it will make a difference. To combine these players with a manager with Trapattoni's class gives Austrian football a very strong side. But I wouldn't be managing in this league if I didn't believe they were catchable. It may take a year or two to close the gap, but I'm confident that it's achievable.
With regard to your future can you shed any light on where you'll be next season? Have you held talks with Hans Rinner?
LS - I'm expecting to hold talks with Mr Rinner sometime in the coming month. I feel I've been a success in my first 8 months in the job and if Mr Rinner sees the same picture, I hope I'll earn a new contract. If this doesn't happen, I plan on staying in football. I began at Sturm Graz treating this as a chance to sample a different line of work, but football's like a drug. Now that I've experienced the managerial side of things, I just want more, I dream of staying here at Graz but if that opportunity doesn't happen, I feel I've done enough to get a job elsewhere.
Well, Luka we thank you for joining us for this interview, and good luck in the future, whether it be for Sturm Graz or elsewhere.
LS - Thank you. Weiner Zeitung - 4th March 2007
Rapid Wien held at home; Salzburg looking strong.
Despite Salzburg picking up an early injury to new signing Mozart, they looked strong from the off. Salzburg created far more chances than the lacklustre Rapid Wien in the first half and were extremely unlucky to not score from an Alexander Zickler strike. The second half began in the same manner and a Mike Zonneveld penalty in the 50th minute gave Trapattoni's side the crucial first goal. This appeared to rejuvinate Rapid however and they were rewarded by Mate Bilic's 88th minute leveller. Salzburg survived the final onslaught and we could well be crowning the new champions as early as March if the performances continue to flow.
Franz Meier
Well, Salzburg had picked up a point at their closest rivals, now they were heading to our home for another away clash. The match report inidicated they had played confidently whilst defending stoutly. They were still looking like champions to me, not that that would stop us trying to claim 3 points off them! Salzburg, Home, Bundesliga - 4.3.2007
I settled on throwing Klaus Salmutter in for the injured Roman Kienast and left Alexandre Mendy on the bench. Salmutter added a creative flair up front that we have never really seen with Rabihou and Kienast. Hopefully the onlooking fans would understand this decision, a deep lying forward could upset the usually solid Salzburg defence. I had made my decision to stand toe to toe with one of the best coaches around, I just had to believe that the tactical switch would throw off one of the all time great tacticians! Salzburg set out in a defensive 4-4-2 formation and had the first chance with last weeks goalscorer Mike Zonneveld finding himself one on one with Szamotulski. Thankfully, Szamotulski produced a smart save to keep it at 0-0. 10 minutes later however, the exact same thing happened again, Zonneveld was in on the angle and although Szamotulski produced another save, the rebound fell to the waiting Niko Kovac who made no mistake with an empty net in front of him. We responded well and Filipovic was unlucky not to bag a goal as he burst onto a Ledwon through ball. The shot was repelled and I was distraught to see the counter attack produce a second for Salzburg. The lively Vratislav Lokvenc finishing off a fluid move with a low and hard strike from 20 yards. The tactical gamble had failed and we went in 2-0 down at half time.
I took Zambrella off, and pushed Salmutter to his natural right flank, Mendy came on up front and I demanded more from the side. We were in a tough position but I felt we still had a chance if we could score early in the next 45 minutes. My prayers were not answered and it seemed everytime we approached their box the move would break down. It had not been a good day, and as the 70th minute approached, a deflected Vonlanthan cross led to a mix-up between goalkeeper and Martin Latka. Latka became the unfortunate man to take the dubious honour of our first own goal of the season. 3-0 down and little to shout about. I decided to leave the side as it were and see what their response was like - sure, the match was over but I had to assess how my players reacted in situations like this. The team reacted the way I wanted them to - Rabihou had the ball in the net but for the linesman's flag it should have been 3-1. Minutes later though, Alexandre Mendy did provide that consolation goal, and although the final score read 3-1, I was content. We had lost to a far superior side, but had done the right things in a difficult situation. It was now time to focus on the next game - away at 2nd place Rapid Wien.
MOM - Vratislav Lokvenc (Salzburg)
I couldn't help but feel slightly guilty as I picked up the morning papers today. Ried manager Helmut Kraft had been sacked. Ried were languishing in 9th and although there didn't look like being much danger of relegation (Pasching had spectacularly underperformed so far), the Ried board felt he had done an unacceptable job. Rapid Wien, Away - 11.3.2007
Zambrella was replaced by Salmutter on the right wing, and Mendy came in up front for this very difficult clash. We lost 3-0 here earlier in the season in a disappointing game. If my scouts tell me correctly, Martin Kincl bagged a hattrick that day - I think I'd chosen to forget that! Anyway the game began to a cocophony of boos as my players enjoyed the lions share of possession. Rabihou had a magnificent chance in the 4th minute but his rising effort was seen just over the crossbar by the Rapid keeper. In the 12th minute though, things changed as good pressure around the box led to a weak clearance and the ball at Lindschinger's feet. The left back shimmied onto his favoured left foot before unleashing a curling shot into the bottom right corner of the keepers net! 1-0 to Sturm Graz and the small pocket of away fans were raptuous, a fantastic start to the match! We were brought down to earth minutes later when a clattering tackle on Christoph Lietgeb led to him being stretchered off. I truly hoped it was not as serious as it looked, we were already short on the left flank and I had to order Salmutter to switch to the left as Zambrella came on to take his favoured right wing spot. Despite the injury, we continued to press on and in the 22nd minute Salmutter raced into the box only to be chopped down by Singlar: A booking for him and a penalty to us. Frank Verlaat of all people seized the ball in his hands! Now I always encouraged my players to take responsibility but perhaps this was a bit too much - the geriatric Verlaat had a job to do at the back and preferably nowhere near their goal! I had no say in the matter though, because before I knew it, Verlaat had swung his right foot, sent the keeper the wrong way and smashed the ball into the top left corner. A quite brilliant penalty and we were 2-0 up at half time!
Rapid had created little so far, but I knew they would emerge much stronger - they were still within touching distance of Salzburg and needed a result here. More boos rang around the ground as Rabihou so nearly provided our third goal, but once again his near post shot went just over the bar. We were running riot here...Until suddenly disaster struck. For some completely inexplicable reason - perhaps he was angry I'd put him on the left wing? - Salmutter chipped a 40 yard ball back to the keeper. He was under no pressure, but his pass was short and Szamotulski had to race out of his box and clear with his head. It was like watching a car crash develop in front of my eyes. The header fell short of Verlaat and Mate Bilic lobbed Szamotulski from 30 yards. We had gifted them a goal and Rapid's tails were up. Minutes later, my worst fears came true. Radek Bejbl ran down the right, cut the ball back to the Mario Bazina and without thinking, the midfielder hammered an unstoppable 30 yard strike into the top left corner. I was gobsmacked. Somehow it was 2-2! The home fans were singing and the Rapid players were geeing each other up. I had to make a change. Rabihou came off for Polo Nzuzi to give us some more pace up front. I changed the formation, making us more defensive for the final 25 minutes. We had to get at least a point here...
Weiner Zeitung - 12.3.2007
Storburg's Sturm Blown Away in Second Half Capitualtion
The phrase - 'It's a game of two halves' has never seemed more appropriate. Luka Storburg's Sturm Graz side dominated the first half and took a well deserved 2-0 lead into the halftime break. Rapid had been ineffective and had afforded Graz too much space around their area. However something happened at half time. Storburg had managed to completely nullify his side, whilst Peter Pacult inspired his team to turn the game around.
An unwelcome backpass from the usually dependable Klaus Salmutter set the comeback in motion as the Graz keeper Szamotulski could not get enough distance on his header and was lobbed by Mate Bilic for 2-1. The unreliable Szamotulski could do nothing about man-of-the-match Bazina's second and third goals, both unstoppable strikes from 30 yards to make it 3-2. As if to rub salt in Luka Storburg's wounds, captain Erwin Hoffer sealed the win with a weak near post strike that somehow evaded Storburg's Polish goalkeeper. It was a magnificent comeback from Rapid, exactly what the Austrian neutral would want to see. Giovanni Trapattoni surely would have been disappointed to see this comeback as it now means his Salzburg side are still 7 points clear.
For the Sturm Graz fans it awakens unanswered questions. Is the inexperienced Luka Storburg to blame here? This defeat asks whether he has the experience in a division that is becoming increasingly more difficult to win 3 points. Sturm Graz sit 7th now and this month will be vital in the managerial career of Storburg. Can he turn it around?
Franz Meier
Well the headline said it all really. We were blown away and I was furious. Szamotulski had been weak for 2 of the four goals but I have to still ask questions of the player's mental approach to that second half. I don't see what else I could have done - I'd asked them to keep their effort up but it had waned. Stupid decision making had cost us and we had blown the chance to claim a crucial 3 points against a good time. The next couple of games were imperitive. I felt as sick as a parrot this week and nothing we did at the club was enjoyable. The player's heads were down and so was mine. It was a relatively quiet week as we prepared for the 'away' match with GAK. The Graz derby had never been so important. GAK, Away, Bundesliga - 17.3.2007
The atmosphere was electric. There were just over 15,000 fans in the ground, it was packed to the rafters for one of the biggest Austrian derbys. The match begun and we were out of the blocks quickly, Rabihou opened up some space for Mendy with a deft chip, but he was crowded out as he attempted to get his shot off. Minutes later, Rabihou found himself to have the space this time - but with just the keeper to beat, he fluffed his lines and the deadlock remained. At the other end GAK's main threat came from a long-range free kick. Szamotulski regained some confidence with an athletic stop to his right. Other than this opportunity, our pressure was beginning to tell and a fine Zambrella run through the heart of the GAK defence almost resulted in a goal. However his shot was parried and half cleared to the edge of the box. Fortunately Adam Ledwon was patrolling this area and his curling strike from 25 yards somehow flew through the crowd to give us the 1-0 lead. This goal seemed to spark a revival though, and GAK begun to press further up the field. Our undoing came from a set-piece. Disappointing marking left Junuzovic completely free to plant a near post header past our keeper. 1-1 with 5 minutes til halftime. I thought we'd be able to take a draw in with us at the break but frustratingly, a slack defensive line left Skoro to maraud through one on one with Szamotulski. No heroics were seen here and we found ourselves sat in the dressing room, utterly deflated and 2-1 down. I tried my best to rally the troops, using anger as my preferred tool. We needed some kind of result here, especially after our recent run.
I brought on the inconsistent Polo Nzuzi to replace a lacklustre Mendy, hoping he could inject some kind of threat up top. The half began in much the way the first had ended. We were under the kosh and suffering. Thanks to some wasteful finishing we were still in with a shout as I ordered the players to switch to a more advanced 4-4-2. On the 70th minute, I was out of my seat and leaping in the air - I could have sworn Nzuzi had scored. Depressingly, he'd missed his simple diving header from 5 yards, and we remained at 2-1. The players could create no more and we finished with a 2-1 defeat. It had been a terrible run after the promise and hope I'd had from the winter break. A 5 minute spell of poor concentration had cost us, and we'd never looked like getting back into the game from here. GAK scored at the perfect time and it had knocked the stuffing out of my players. 3 defeats in a row and we were sitting 7th.
MOM - Predrag Pazin
28.3.2007 - Today the Pasching board had to replace their manager for the second time this season. Unlike in February when Dominik Thalhammer left the club, this time Dietmar Constantini was sacked and replaced by Fuad Djulic. It was an odd decision - granted Pasching were rooted to the bottom of the table but what did the board really expect? Thalhammer had left the club in such a perilous position, I couldn't see any way out. Mattersburg, Home, Bundesliga - 31.3.2007
8th placed Mattersburg arrived at the Graz-Liebenau Stadium as favourites according to the bookies. It took the pressure off us in some way and once again I was sitting in the dugout hoping we'd pull off a good performance. We'd had around 10 days rest to get the three previous defeats out of our system. However it was now completely down to the players. How much did we want this win? I had my doubts...And the doubts were justified - Frank Verlaat's aging muscles restricted his leap to a mere 6 centimetres off the ground and the lobbed pass over him fell to Thomas Wagner, who finished low and hard at the near post. The first 45 continued with our backs to the wall. We were being overrun up front by Mattersburg and were lucky to only be 1-0 down. Just as the halftime whistle approached, Mendy collected the ball on the edge of the area and slid Rabihou in on goal. He delayed his strike until the last minute before lashing it low past the keeper to take us in at the break 1-1. I decided I'd had enough of Frank Verlaat. He came off for the Slovenian Morec. Jurgen Saumel came on in place of the slightly injured Adam Ledwon.
Our momentum remained as the second half began and a few minutes in I was leaping around with my arms in the air - Zambrella had headed us into the lead. The stadium erupted with relief. Could we hold onto it? Our prayers were nearly answered with ten minutes to go but the post denied Salmutter's header. Jurgen Saumel was having a good 45, he finally looked close to full match sharpness and had done a good job in Ledwon's place. This was something I'd have to consider over the next few games - particularly if Ledwon was injured. Time ticked away and I was delighted to shake the hands of my players as we came away with a 2-1 victory. The second half was over and we'd come back strongly. It had been a disappointing month but we'd ended it strongly.
MOM - Rabihou
All in all the performances this month were disappointing, we could have sneaked results at Graz and definitely shouldn't have lost to Rapid Wien, given the position we were in. We were sitting 7th but were still only 2 points off 4th. The inter-toto cup place was still well within our grasp. All I wanted now was this momentum to continue. In administrative news, I offered my assistant and youth team coach a fresh deal at the club. They'd been loyal to me thus far and I felt we'd built a good working relationship. It was the evening of the 31st March and just as I was packing up my bags in my office the phone on my desk rang. "Luka?"
"Yes"
"It's Hans, I hope I didn't catch you at a bad time, but I have to ask you to come to the ground and meet me."
"Not a problem sir, I'll be there in fifteen minutes."
And with that I hopped in my car and drove to the stadium. I didn't really think about what Mr Rinner might want - most likely something to do with someones contract. I hated having to justify myself to Hans - he seemed to question every one of the decisions I'd made lately. When I told him I wanted to offer Dragan Sarac a new contract he was startled, he couldn't understand why I'd want to keep a player that would have missed 9 months of football. It was often hard to get through to the chairman just how important some players were to a squad, even it was more to do with their attitude than ability. Anyway as I pulled into the car park, I begun to line up the next explanation - Dragan Milanic (my assistant manager) was vital in the development of my team, and his motivational qualities in the dressing room were like nothing I'd seen before. That sounded good. I sat down at Hans Rinner's desk and just as I was about to ask him what this was about, he spoke. "Luka, the board and I have assessed the teams performance so far this season and come to a unanimous decision. With the fans support and the backing of our investors, I would like to offer a hand of gratitude and to ask you to extend your contract here at Sturm Graz. I'm pleased with how you've done and I think you deserve the credit you will get in the Austrian press. On the basis of this good performance, here are the terms we are offering you - it will be a 2 year deal on £4,700 a week. You will remain on the wage you are on now. I can also confirm that you will be given close to £500k as a transfer budget, and a wage budget of £41,500. How does that sound to you?"
"Well to be perfectly honest, it sounds fantastic. You know how much I love this club and I'm thrilled you've given me the chance to continue working with the team."
"Glad to hear it Luka, can I ask you to sign it now? The board and I have laid out a few alternative budgets for you to choose from, indicate what's suits your needs best, and we'll settle on it ok?"
"Will do sir, thank you once again for the opportunity."
Weiner Zeitung Storburg Signs On Dotted Line
Sturm Graz fans were flooding their forums yesterday to congratulate the board on offering manager Luka Storburg a new contract. Sturm Graz fans had expected a much tougher season than the one that has panned out, especially after the appointment of a largely unproven manager. However Storburg has defied his critics and pushed his side up to 4th in the Bundesliga.
Storburg had this to say on his new deal -
"I'm delighted at how this has turned out. I had expected my stint here to be a 1 year cameo role. But to see the chairman and fans show their faith in me gives me great pride. I feel we can push on further this season and further still in the next two years I'm here." Storburg has been handed a reported £725k transfer kitty for the summer as he looks to add to the talent already available to him.
We spoke to the Chairman of the Sturm Graz Supporters Association - Andreas Kriller spoke to us about this news -
"Understandably we're pleased with Mr Rinner's decision making. We had our doubts at the start of the season, and many fans called for Franco Foda's return. However Luka Storburg has completely won us over this year, he says the right things, and we are playing a stylish type of football not seen since our glory days in the mid-90s. Onwards and upwards we think. Here's to Luka and a great finish to the season."
So it seems opinion is unanimous in Graz, Storburg is here to stay - and the fans couldn't be happier.
Franz Meier, March 2007
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">Holders - Austria Wien| Pos | Inf | Team | | Pld | Won | Drn | Lst | For | Ag | G.D. | Pts | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 1st | | Salzburg | | 26 | 16 | 6 | 4 | 41 | 14 | +27 | 54 | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 2nd | | Rapid Wien | | 26 | 14 | 6 | 6 | 43 | 31 | +12 | 48 | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 3rd | | Austria Wien | | 25 | 13 | 5 | 7 | 32 | 21 | +11 | 44 | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 4th | | Altach | | 26 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 43 | 49 | -6 | 33 | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 5th | | GAK | | 25 | 7 | 11 | 7 | 27 | 26 | +1 | 32 | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 6th | | Wacker Tirol | | 26 | 7 | 11 | 8 | 37 | 37 | 0 | 32 | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 7th | | Sturm Graz | | 26 | 9 | 7 | 10 | 29 | 33 | -4 | 31 | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 8th | | Mattersburg | | 26 | 6 | 10 | 10 | 35 | 42 | -7 | 28 | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 9th | | Ried | | 26 | 5 | 9 | 12 | 37 | 48 | -11 | 24 | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 10th | | Pasching | | 26 | 3 | 8 | 15 | 18 | 41 | -23 | 17 | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 3 points deducted from Sturm Graz | | | | | | | | | | | | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| </pre>
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