Austrias Fischer:

“Unnecessary, incomprehensible and unacceptable”

Austria captain Manfred Fischer(Bild: GEPA pictures)

Slipped up in Innsbruck! 0:1 meant the first defeat in the qualifying group for Vienna's Austria. A controversial penalty decided the game. The lead over the WAC has shrunk. "Unnecessary, incomprehensible and unacceptable," said Austria captain Manfred Fischer.

Temperatures just above zero, drizzling rain. It would have been a fine Tuesday evening for the couch. Nevertheless, Austria coach Michi Wimmer wanted to see "energy, fire, passion, greed" from his squad in Innsbruck. After all, the aim was to confirm and maintain the top form of recent weeks."

Compared to the 3-0 win in the first leg against WSG Tirol, Wimmer made four changes to the starting XI (mainly due to injured players), with Marvin Martins, Matteo Meisl, Manfred Fischer and Muki Huskovic all starting. The game had to be interrupted just moments after kick-off. A poster from the brave Austria fans who had traveled with them blocked a safety route and had to be moved. Immediately afterwards, Andi Gruber missed a huge chance to get off to a dream start, the purple goalgetter shooting over (6th). It was to be the last noteworthy offensive action from Vienna for some time.

On Saturday, we played this opponent into the ground.

Austria-Kapitän Manfred Fischer

Hanging heads with the "violets"(Bild: GEPA pictures)

Fischer: "Unnecessary, incomprehensible and unacceptable"
Austria started to flounder on the slippery, soapy Tivoli turf. After the break, Bayern loanee Frans Krätzig hit the outside of the net (52'), but the match was otherwise a bit of a stalemate. Until Martins was unfortunate enough to receive a header from David Gugganig on his right hand, and referee Kijas awarded a penalty after studying the video. Worth discussing. Chris Früchtl had no chance against Denis Tomic (87'). Hakim Guenouche was shown red for an emergency brake (93'). The first defeat in the qualifying group was sealed, and it was also the first against the Tyroleans' "favorite opponent" since 2019. "On Saturday, we played this opponent to the ground," said captain Manfred Fischer, shaking his head and struggling to find an explanation. "Unnecessary, incomprehensible and unacceptable," Fischer quickly found clear words.

"Austria too good, but ..."
On Friday at home against Altach, the Violets want to show off their gala outfit again at the end of the English week. They actually have to, because the lead over the WAC has shrunk to three points again. Ex-Austrian and Sky pundit Marko Stankovic's assessment hits the nail on the head: "Austria are actually too good for the qualifying group. But they're just not consistent enough ..."