Sekou Koita

Salzburg’s emergency nail comes back into focus

Only rarely cheered recently: Sekou Koita.(Bild: Red Bull Salzburg/Fabian Weirather)

The premature retirement of Red Bull Salzburg striker Fernando has brought a competitor back into focus. Sekou Koita has been at the bottom of the food chain among the Bulls attackers in recent weeks, although he has by far the best goal rate.

Since yesterday evening it is certain: Salzburg striker Fernando will not be playing this season. The Brazilian is injured again and had to be substituted in the first half of the 1:1 draw against Rapid.

The club confirmed: "The current season has come to a premature end due to a muscle injury in his right thigh." This was confirmed by an MRI examination of the 25-year-old on Monday. It is a shock for the Bulls, who have been lacking a lot in terms of play of late anyway and would therefore have needed the Samba kicker like a morsel of bread in the season finale.

The pressure on head coach Gerhard Struber is growing.(Bild: GEPA pictures)

Fernando: Only 27 of 80 games played
Fernando's time of suffering continues. In just under two years in Austria, he only played 27 out of a possible 80 games. This means that on average he was only on the pitch in every third game!

 But when he was fit, he was on fire in the opposition penalty area: the striker has scored twelve goals and set up six.

Head coach Gerhard Struber has already emphasized that he has great confidence in the other strikers. What else can he say? After all, they are the ones who are now responsible for securing the eleventh championship title in a row in the remaining seven rounds.

Koita scores every 63 minutes in the league
The Bulls' statistically best goalscorer has only played a subordinate role in the striker hierarchy of late: Sekou Koita. The Malian scores every 63 minutes in the league - an outstanding figure!

The reason why he is still not more than a wild card is simple: Koita's contract expires and it is unlikely that he will stay beyond the summer. If the Bulls want to become champions, they should jump over their shadow and give Koita more playing time. Otherwise, Sturm Graz could really have their moment.

League record of the Bulls strikers:

Sekou KOITA 63 minutes/goal

Karim KONATE 117 minutes/goal

FERNANDO 139 minutes/goal

Petar RATKOV 213 minutes/goal

Roko SIMIC 252 minutes/goal

Dorgeles NENE 328 minutes/goal