Pacult as a "ghost"

Only Lewandowski was quicker than “Magic Andy”!

(Bild: GEPA pictures/ Matic Klansek)

Often just a substitute in the spring - Austria Klagenfurt's "Magic" Andy Irving celebrated his resurrection with his first professional hat-trick in the incredible 4:3 win over Salzburg. It hardly let him sleep at night - and that after a period of suffering. The match ball is given a place of honor - and Coach Pacult led the Bulls once again. .

We love Andy, I'll go through fire for him, we'll do anything for him from now on - he's our hero!", Austria Klagenfurt's Kosmas Gkezos shouts through the catacombs of the European Championship Arena after training - all this while the "Krone" interviewed the great protagonist of the furious 4:3 victory over Salzburg: Andy Irving.

Pure ecstasy! Irving was celebrated by his Klagenfurt colleagues against Salzburg.(Bild: F. Pessentheiner)

And the 23-year-old Scot deserved all the praise: on the magical night in Klagenfurt, "Magic Andy" almost single-handedly turned the match around from 0:2 to 4:3 with his first professional hat-trick. Incidentally, it was the second-fastest treble ever scored against Salzburg - in just 22 minutes! Only a certain Robert Lewandowski was quicker, scoring one in just eleven minutes for Bayern 2022 (7:1)!

Proudly presents the signed "hat-trick ball" to the "Krone": Irving.(Bild: Claudio Trevisan)

"The best game of my life!"
Irving naturally snapped up the match ball and had it signed by his colleagues. "It gets a place of honor next to the TV! These are memories for eternity, I'll never forget them," beams Irving and emphasizes: "I didn't fall asleep until late that night, the scenes were still in my head forever - it was the best game of my life."

Pacult messed with the cameraman!(Bild: f. pessentheiner)

But what Irving was also thinking about: his time of suffering! Coach Peter Pacult had (rightly) benched the playmaker, who had been out of form for a long time, in the spring, publicly taking him by the scruff of the neck ("He's not his old self any more!") - and built him up in the background. "It was the hardest time of my career! I was used to playing fixed. Pacult showed me what I was doing wrong - I obeyed him."

"It was the hardest time of my career! And it was followed by the best game of my life - with my first hat-trick in the professional game. Unbelievable!"

Andy Irving

Indeed: Andy has scored five times in the past four games, three of them from the spot - and now has eight goals and four assists.

"Transfer has affected him mentally"
"His future summer transfer to West Ham has affected him mentally," says Pacult and emphasizes: "All eyes will be on him on Sunday in Hartberg - he has to confirm his performance!" What Irving also promises - he says: "I'm 100 percent the old Andy again!"

The spectre of Pacult
The crowd for this hit was once again pathetic - only 3144 fans turned up. But they saw Pacult once again put the Bulls to the sword: Four goals or more in just 45 minutes - Salzburg had only conceded that many once before in the league since Red Bull joined in 2005: From Rapid 16 years ago at 0:7. With coach fox Pacult on the line.