Increased pressure on everyone

WAC ace on the radar of clubs from Europe’s top leagues

(Bild: GEPA pictures/ Avni Retkoceri)

When the WAC host Austria Lustenau at home on Saturday, none of the brilliant attacking trio Bamba/Ballo/Boakye of the fall will be on the pitch. One of them is even being chased by clubs from Europe's top leagues. After the recent poor performances, the pressure on the team and the coach has increased within the club. . .

When the WAC take on bottom club Lustenau tomorrow, the brilliant attacking trio of Bamba - Ballo - Boakye, who caused the fans to erupt with enthusiasm as the "Triple B" in the fall, will finally be nothing more than a fond memory:

Mo Bamba was sold to French stragglers Lorient for a hefty €5 million back in the winter (for which the club can of course still not be blamed in the slightest). After scoring six goals in his first six games, Mo is currently without a goal in four matches.

Thierno Ballo, this season's top scorer with nine goals, will miss Saturday's match after his stupid yellow card against Austria Vienna. "I immediately apologized to the team," he grumbles.

And the team will have to wait even longer for "Skima" Boakye (six goals, seven assists!) due to a torn muscle fiber in the adductor area. A whole gallery of scouts had recently arrived for the Ghanaian - completely in vain! - A whole gallery of scouts had recently arrived for the Ghanaian - first and foremost the hottest prospects Lille and Auxerre (Fr), plus Bologna, Torino (It), Espanyol (Sp), etc. In agreement with his advisor Marcel Veerman, Skima will only start when he is fully fit again. Neither a long-term injury nor poor performances will jeopardize the expected million-euro transfer in the summer.

"Skima" Boakye is on the list of several top clubs.(Bild: f. pessentheiner)

Pressure has increased on team and coach
WAC president Diemar Riegler was shocked by last week's performance against Austria Vienna. "That was the worst performance in a long, long time - nothing was right from front to back!" Even before the Altach match, he had called on coach Schmid to give the team a good talking to.

Increased pressure on everyone
The fact is: since Saturday, the pressure has increased on EVERYONE. Not in terms of fear of relegation, but in terms of the European Cup play-off (which clearly remains WAC's goal for the season), in terms of delivering a performance to watch, not to look away. Riegler is known for always backing his coaches - but he is also someone who, when confronted with long-term regression, does not shy away from rigorous, quick measures.

Schmid convinced of improvement
And Schmid? He continues to radiate calm and aplomb ("When building a new team, I have planned for setbacks!"), but has also made it clear to the squad that "you can't go into an important game like this" and has conveyed to everyone the appalling duel record. "But I'm also firmly convinced that everything will look better again soon." In view of the upcoming double-header against Lustenau, who are almost coffin-bound, an increase in points is an absolute must.