"Krone" analysis

Performance in the play-off was a joke

(Bild: APA/AFP/TT NEWS AGENCY/Johan NILSSON, Krone KREATIV)

Thomas Koch analyzes VSV's season for the "Krone". After the quarter-final exit, the ice hockey legend is not sparing with his criticism.

How times have changed! When I was still playing, with KAC and Salzburg, games against VSV were always extremely unpleasant. Villach played hard, were always a unit. Especially in Villach, things were tough. It was often a miracle that I didn't have to leave the ice injured after ten minutes, and today. Villach is an average team. I miss that fighting spirit, that heart - and that unity.

Katic and Co. are an average team for Koch.(Bild: GEPA pictures/ Matthias Trinkl)

The Adler's start to the season was very good this year, they played at the front. Then they became increasingly inconsistent and coach Rob Daum was sacked. The legionnaires were rarely in top form. The atmosphere was also said not to have been good at all. There were small improvements under coach Marcel Rodman.

There were small improvements under coach Marcel Rodman.

Thomas Koch

But taking over a team during the season is already difficult for an experienced coach, even more so for a newcomer. But he reached the top six - that deserves a positive mention. In the play-offs, the Adler's performance was a joke. The first three games were unwatchable. Villach used to be a team that improved in the play-offs, but now they're slipping.

In my opinion, VSV needs to bring more stability. There are always too many arrivals and departures. A good core of Austrians has now been found, but you also need legionnaires with more quality. And VSV needs a sporting director who knows something about ice hockey. To take the pressure off boss Gerald Rauchenwald, who is a notary by profession.