Newcomers to spark Rapid`s chances to win the title

Two days before the start of the new campaign Rapid presented two newcomers who have to strength up the squad in order to win the Bundesliga. Iceland`s wing Arno Traustason and Croatian midfielder Ivan Mocinic have to spice up the team on his way to 33^rd title.

-          - We are very pleased that we sing with Arno and Ivan. They are going to give us many versatile options on the flanks and also balanced play in the midfield – said manager Mike Buskens.

Trautston was part of the sensational Iceland team who played in last EC in France. He also managed to score against Austria in 2-1 win in group matches. Icelandic “HU” can be heard at the new stadium. -     It would be very nice when we can celebrate together with fans “HU” song. I can’t wait to play in green and I’m here to win a title with Rapid- said Traustason.

Croatian midfielder Ivan Mocinic comes to Rapid from Rijeka for 2, 5 mln euro fee. He would be the most expensive player in the squad. Rapid is his first international experience and he thoughts it would can be step forward in his career. -     I`m happy to be here in club with such a long tradition. I can promise that I’ll work hard and gave my best with Rapid to celebrate the title. – said enthusiastic Mocinic.

Sport director Thomas Muller added that the negations with Schaub and Schawb are going well, and son they are going to sign new contracts.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6a1xxAdsKg&feature=youtu.be 

The new season in Bundesliga starts at Saturday when Rapid meets Ried in new Allianz stadium in Vienna. 

Grodig pulled out sensational win in Vienna

Bottom placed Grodig pulled out a surprising 2-0 win over Austria Vienna in Generali Arena. Goals form Sulimani and Ofous in second half ensure vital points for Salzburger in survival battle.

It was “all violet “in first 45 minutes, the home side pushed hard for opener but Grodig`s keeper Swete pulled off a string of fine saves to frustrate Torsten Fink's men.  He denied efforts from Holzhauser, Merlinger, Venuto and Shikov and managed to keep his team alive.

Just after the break Roy Kehat`s close-range header was kept out by Swete. Then it were the visitors who cheered. Holzhauser blunder in area was punished by Sulimani.

His only 4^th goal of the season, opened the way for only second away win in this campaign. Austria eventually recovered their composure and began to take control of the game without creating too many opportunities.

In the dying minutes Austria get caught with the classic counter. Ofosu sealed the victory after run on the right side from substitute Roman Wallner.

Postmatch comments:

Torsten Fink (Austria manager) : “We have to keep our confidence for the upcoming Derby. He (Holzhauser) knows himself that he doesn’t have to do this kind of mistakes.”

Peter Shottel (Grodig manager) : “We are happy that our loosing strike is over. I hope that this wouldn`t be to late finish for us”.

photo:fak.at

Conte “only” fifth Italian to guide Chlesea

Antonio Conte is “only” the fifth Italian to sit in Chelsea`s hot seat after Gianluca Viali ,Claudio Ranieri, Carlo Ancelotti and Roberto Di Mateo. Conte have signed 3 year contract until 2019 and in next three years the Italian will earn 20 million euros.

The first ever Italian manager in Chelsea was Gianluca Viali. He succeeded Rud Gulit in February 1998. Viali have won fifth trophies in less than three years.

First two came in 1998 when Chelsea won the League Cup and the European Cup Winners' Cup, by beating VfB Stuttgart with 1-0.  Next trophy for Chelsea was the European Super Cup after beating Real Madrid 1–0. The following season saw Chelsea ended on a high note when Vialli guided Chelsea to a win over Aston Villa in the 2000 FA Cup final. Last one was the FA Charity Shield when Chelsea outplayed Manchester United. Only five games into the season Vialli was sacked.

Second Italian in charge of Chelsea from 18 September 2000 to 30 May 2004 was Claudio Ranieri. Hi wasn’t successful like his previous country man. In four years Ranieri's build strong side but he didn’t win any silverwere. He was the first manager in the Roman Abramovic`s era.

After wining two Champions league titles with AC Milan, Carlo Ancelotti was brought to Chelsea to spark them in Europe. Ancelotti have won the Double (FA and Premier League) for the first time in Chelsea`s history in his first season but fail to bring Champions League “music” to Stamford Bridge. After less then 2 years he was sacked.  

But it was the another Italian that fulfil Abramovic`s dream. It was a former Chelsea player and Italian international Roberto di Mateo. As caretaker over Villas-Boas he guided Chelsea to FA Cup and Champions League success, beating Bayern Munich in the final on penalties. Not the less he was sacked six months later, after being given a two-year permanent deal.

Antonio Conte will be tenth manager in Roman Abramovic`s era. All previous managers except Gus Hidinik have been sacked by Russian tycoon.

Red Bull stays four clear on the top

Red Bull Salzburg defended their four-point lead at the Austrian Bundesliga after drawing 1-1 against Rapid at Ernst Happel Stadion in Vienna.

The "Ernst Happel Stadion" in Vienna has proved to be “unlucky” ground for "the greens". In last four matches played during last two seasons they have failed to manage a win over the "bulls". Two defeats and two draws.

After a quiet half hour, only the woodwork denied Rapid`s captain Stefan Hofmann from opening the score. By the end of the first half Rapid`s Schaub hits the post with header from a magnificent Kainz cross.

But even solid Walke could not prevent the opener only one minute into the second half. Schaub exchanged passes with Kainz on the edge of the area and calmly sent a left-footed finish into the bottom corner. Third goal for the talented Rapid`s striker, who was out for the most of the season due to series of injuries.

The Rapid`s goal woke up the visitors. Strebinger kept Soriano's curling strike out of the top corner with a fingertip save. The defending champions got the equalizer 15 minutes from final whistle. Duje Caleta-Car headed Ulmer curling cross into the back of the net. For Croatian defender that was first goal of this campaign.

Both sides had chances to win the match, Rapid came closest to finding the net before the final whistle when Alar dragged a shot wide from a good opening created by substitute Schobesberger.

photo:skrapid.at

Fuchs : We live our dream

After four years spell with German Schalke 04 the captain of Austrian national football team Christian Fuchs transferred last summer to Leicester in the English Premierleague. The team that last year survived in the last rounds of the season is about to do a world class sensation. In their wildest dreams Leicester players could not imagine , what happened them. Achievements passed the expectations of Christian Fuchs.

- This is something incredible,  and in any case something that I personally did not expect. Last year the team was saved in the last rounds, I came into preseason trainings and immediately saw the potential that the team has, I knew that the struggle for survival would be at stake, but that such things will unfold I haven`t expected - says Fuchs. 

Fuchs ,Vardy, Mahrez, Drinkwater led by Italian Claudio Ranieri live their dream. Till the end there are seven rounds, will Leicester wake up from his dream? Will it be a happy end?  -This is a dream, a dream that every player wants to dream, we are very close to achieving the impossible. There are still seven matches, the difference is only five points, is not advantage that would give us the opportunity to relax. But like in the national team also in Leicester we go step by step, we don`t look in the schedule, and we always try to give our best – said Fuchs.

Leicester City have already won a worldwide support to persist in the world of football where money turn the things around. Leicester are modern football 'Robin Hood`s'. 

- For football fans is always good when a small team lead to success, if you take a  look into the EC participating selections, you`ll see that are so many so to say football anonymous, but what we can see is that, that football can write an interesting stories . - says left full back.

He played "Russian" roulette with Vardy, Ranieiri "buys" pizza after victory without conceding a goal, and free days are something quite normal by the Italian. The attitude towards the players is something that surprised Austrian in Leicester.

- My family lives in New York, when I want to visit them, I got the green light from the club. In Germany it was unthinkable to travel during the season. I think everyone has the right to do what he wants in his free days - says Fuchs.

Fuchs will lead the Austrian team EC in France in Group F, there they will meet the national teams of Portugal, Hungary and Iceland.

Austria suffered bitter defeat

Austria have suffered bitter 2-1 defeat from Turkey 2-1 in a friendly match played in Vienna as a part of preparations for the upcoming European Championship in France. Junuzovic struck for the hosts who, despite the lead suffered defeat with goals  from the Bayer Leverkusen`s "playmaker" Hakan Calhanoglu and Barcelona`s  midfielder Arda Turan.

 

- I'm happy for the players and for the victory which is very important for our team, we wanted to continue our winning streak. Austria is a strong team without defeat in qualifiers and we knew how hard is to beat them at home soil, said Calhanoglu.

Turkey advanced to the final round in France, as one of the best third placed team. Narrow victory over Iceland managed in 89 minute opened the gates to France. There they will meet Croatia, the Czech Republic and Spain.

- It's hard to say how it will be there, you have to go step by step, we have a tough group won`t be an easy task but our goal is to qualify for the knockout phase - said the free kicks expert Hakan Calhanoglu.

Turkey coach Fatih Terim raises euphoria in the wake of European Championship. Turkey in this mini preparatory period recorded two wins over Sweden 2-1 and Austria 2-1.

- Each victory won at international level is important and significant. Of course we are happy with this victory, which will raise the morale of the team. Our chances in EC? It is still early to talk about it there is enough time to matches in France. - said the popular Emperor Fatih Terim.

After a series of victories, Austria had to "poke" hand and to congratulate. Team Engine David Alaba, stressed that the "red-white" well played but fail to reach the goal.

- This is a bitter defeat. We`ve wanted strongly to win, we`ve done more than our opponent but they take advantage of our mistakes. Both goals were scored by our mistakes. - said the Bayern Munich player.

Dynamo Kiev defender Aleksandar Dragovic believes that they can take something from this defeat. The goal of the Calhanoglu was the turning point. 

- These are goals that you have nothing much to do. We knew that Hakan has a great kick, just against us he managed to show it. We can be satisfied with the efforts, certainly not with the result. Mistakes happen in football, and this defeat was come as a result of our mistakes. Until EC we have plenty of time, what is important to learn a lesson and not to donate bowing to our opponents. - Dragovic said.

Austria before the EC will play two friendly matches. First against Malta, and the on June 4 against the Netherlands in Vienna.

Koller extended his contract till WC 2018

Swiss Marcel Koller will lead the football selection of Austria in the next two seasons through qualifiers for 2018 World Cup in Russia. Koller whose contract expires at the end of the European Championship in France in Julu has committed to an additional two years allegiance.

- Unlike the last time, now the pressure was lower. We wanted to take off the pressure, before our upcoming preperations for European Championship in France. So instead of my contract we can talk about football topics. - said Koller after announcing the collaboration.

Under the regime of Koller, Austria supremely qualified to EC in France, series of good results placed the "ski" nation among the top 10 in the world. Before “the Koller Era”, "red-white" were placed at 77 positiion of the FIFA rankings.

- Our goal is to present us in good light in France and to maintain our present in major competitions,  like next World Cup in Russia. - emphasized Kohler.

https://sporticos.com/en

For him, despite good financial offer, it is important that the Co-team that he worked with in the last four years also remained. Austria first test games before meeting in France will be later this month also against teams who will travel to Paris. Against Albania will play against 26, and against Turkey on 29 March. In Koller`s squad for these meetings returns injured goalkeeper Robert Almer, who is the only player to play in the Austrian Bundesliga. New name is Schalke`s midfielder Alessandro Shop.

- If there are no surprises or injuries this will be 23-man squad that will travel to France. The door is not closed to anybody, not somebody have guaranteed place, but as things stand at present it is a selection that will us represent in Paris - underlined Koller.

Austria EC in France is in Group F along with the national teams of Portugal, Hungary and Iceland.