"Krone" column

Often “sabotaged” themselves – now fear is spreading

A column by "Krone" reporter Rainer Bortenschlager:

The correspondence (long version of the verdict, grounds for appeal) has been completed-as early as today, the league's protest committee will once again deal with Rapids' derby cause. With the green-white hope that suspensions will be reduced. At least Niklas Hedl and Max Hofmann have a theoretical chance of playing in Klagenfurt on Sunday.

Otherwise, coach Robert Klauß will have to make do with six suspended players in the Top 6 final. Especially tricky in goal: Two-goalie Paul Gartler (26) has been injured in recent weeks and does not yet have a game of the season under his belt. And "three" Bernhard Unger (24) has only played seven league minutes for Rapid since 2020.

Rapid's fans' souls are boiling, and the culprits in the event of failure (flop 6) have long been identified: the media and the Bundesliga. How points for the championship group were bunglingly given away in the fall is forgotten. The visible "insecurity" (after a derby triumph!) in the 1:1 against Lustenau was also self-inflicted.

Failed due to "sabotage"
"Background noise" for which Klauß and sporting director Markus Katzer can do nothing - but they are only judged by Rapid's sporting successes and failures. Just like their predecessors. Many failed due to "sabotage" from within their own ranks. For example in 2016, when the fan protests surrounding "Austria fan" Max Entrup killed the euphoria. Later, there were power struggles in the management and for the presidency.

Now the club finally seems united at all levels and on the right track in sporting terms. But Rapid is fragile - a league spring in the flop 6 would not only cost millions of euros and months, but would also call many things into question unnecessarily. This fear is now spreading.