Jagd auf den Red Bull

Agh! That'd have been a lovely trophy to win but I guess it wasn't to be

Stoger: Steegmann Can’t Continue Like This

Speaking to Eurosport this morning, former Austria Wien manager Peter Stoger sent out a warning message to current Die Vielchen manager Christopher Steegmann about his future with the Austrian Bundesliga side struggling to regain any semblance of form in the Austrian top flight right now. Stoger, 52, has managed Austria Wien in two spells, for 7 months in 2005 and for the 2012-13 season, and whilst in charge of Die Vielchen, the 52 year old, won the OFB-Cup in 2005 and the Bundesliga in 2013, the last Austria Wien manager to win the league title for the club.

Stoger, who most recently managed Borussia Dortmund in the German Bundesliga, is considered an icon by many Austria Wien fans for his success and it is likely that current manager Christopher Steegmann will no doubt take note of the words of the 52 year old. With Austria Wien preparing for another big game against Wacker Innsbruck in the Bundesliga, Stoger said in his interview that Steegmann and his Austria Wien side needed to end their poor run of form otherwise Steegmann’s job may well be on the line.

“I think when you look at the run the club is on, they could well end up missing out on European football altogether after being in a position where they were challenging for the league title not two months ago. It’s now been 9 games without a win in all competitions for them and they need to arrest that incredibly poor run of form as soon as possible. If they miss out on European football I think Steegmann will lose his job because he can’t continue if they throw away all that hard work from earlier in the season surely. This is a very good team no doubt, they’ve shown that over the course of the season but they’re just short of confidence at the moment and they need to pick some form up, pick a win up and give their campaign a bit of an injection again.”

Comments

ScottT: Think it might take just grinding out a 1-0 victory to turn the tide and just bring morale up to a point where we can then put together a good sequence of results!

Justice: Hopes of silverware are probably over for this season but we’ll come back better next year!

Jack: Just wasn’t to be Got to turn our attentions to trying to get Champions League football now!

Last Update: #30 Semi Final Heartbreak For Austria In Cup
Next Update: #32 Month In Focus: April

Hopefully Stoger's words will put a rocket up some of the players bottoms and they get a run of results together!

1.5.19, Christopher Steegmann: ”A bitterly disappointing month with a sweeter end. The players lack of confidence after a run of poor results last month left us at rock bottom and searching for any shred of the form we had been showing pre-winter break and it has cost us dearly unfortunately and now we’re out of the title race and out of the cup. However we still have a lot to play for, namely a place in either the Champions League or the Europa League, so we have to keep trying and putting in 110% and try and push as hard as we can for a win in each of the remaining four games. The 3-0 win over Wacker Innsbruck was a performance much more like the standards we had already set and hopefully it will prove to be a huge confidence boost ahead of the final four games and hopefully we can come away from next month and the final month of the season with a place in the top two and having a shot at Champions League football next season.”

Comments

ScottT: It would appear his comments have worked thank god!

Last Update: #31 Stoger: Steegmann Can’t Continue Like This
Next Update: #33 Austria Wien Make Matic And Cuevas Deals Permanent

Some much needed points concluding the month. Hopefully, you'll be able to record six points from six to cap off the season and hopefully get a place in the Champions League for next season.

Now they are two huge fixtures that you can take points away from if you get it right! Really not long left in this season so maybe a late surge on the title is possible, but a win against RB Salzburg would make everything OK I guess

Not the best set of results but you have the opportunity to set a good tone to the end of the season and make a real statement for next season. Strike fear into your opponents. Make them quiver.

Austria Wien Make Matic And Cuevas Deals Permanent

Austria Wien today began their first steps towards preparation for next season by completing the permanent signings of two players well acquainted with the Generali Arena as Uros Matic and Cristian Cuevas joined the club on a permanent basis. Both the Serbian Matic and Chilean Cuevas, have been regulars for Austria Wien this season as Die Vielchen look to secure a place in next season’s UEFA Champions League, with both players being instrumental in helping manager Christopher Steegmann to establish his heavy pressing philosophy on the club with both players being well noted for their work rate both on and off the pitch.

The deal to bring Matic to the club is believed to be worth around £400K to his former club FC Kobenhavn, with Austria Wien and Christopher Steegmann activating an already agreed release clause in the terms of the loan deal for the Serbian. Matic, has made 28 appearances for Die Vielchen this season, scoring three goals and looks set to star in Austria Wien’s midfield in their Matchday 30 game against league leaders Red Bull Salzburg having scored a stunning strike from outside the penalty area in last week’s 2-0 victory away at Sturm Graz. Speaking at his unveiling as an official Austria Wien player, Matic said “it is an honour to be officially an Austria Wien player. I have extremely enjoyed my time here so far and we’ve had a very enjoyable season and hopefully moving forward into the future we can make many more happy memories with silverware included in that too.”

Meanwhile the deal to sign Cristian Cuevas from Chilean club Huachipato is believed to be worth around £500K initially with clauses in the deal expected to raise the total fee to just over £1.3 million. Cuevas’ fine form from left back, matched with his high work rate and ability to track up and down the left wing have made him a fan favourite quickly at the Generali Arena, with the 24 year old having displaced Thomas Salamon as the starting left back right at the beginning of his fledgling Austria Wien career with some fine performances. Cuevas was, like his team mate Matic, delighted at sealing the move, particularly with Austria Wien pushing for Champions League football next season. “This is a very special club and they have made me feel like a part of the family right from the get go. To continue playing for this club is fantastic, I love it here and if we can go on to secure Champions League football for the new season that would be amazing to experience with this team.”

Upon completing the signings of Matic and Cuevas, Austria Wien manager Christopher Steegmann spoke to Bundesliga.at about his feelings towards the two signings and his plans for the upcoming transfer window. “I think Uros and Cristian will be fantastic additions to the club because of the qualities they have already bought to the team. They’ve both played exceptionally well this season and their work ethic and commitment to our cause is undeniable and very much appreciated. We’re going to have a big season ahead of us next year with a lot of fresh challenges, ones which I know Uros and Cristian are both more than capable of succeeding in. It is going to be a big summer for us because we have to prepare the squad for a difficult campaign with more games because of our (hopeful) European commitments. However it is getting to be an exciting time of year and I know the fans can’t wait!”

Comments

ScottT: Winning all of our remaining games would be massive and would be a big step in the right direction especially if it went on to secure us Champions League football.

Jack: I think a title bid may just be out of the question now, and the best we can hope for is Champions League football, which in itself would still be a huge achievement for us considering we finished seventh last season.

Justice: Once more unto the breach!

Last Update: #32 Month In Focus: April
Next Update: #34 Cuevas Double Seals Memorable Salzburg Win

Excellent news lad! They're both cracking players - especially having used Matic before in-game. He's special!

Two great signings there. Hopefully they will add some class to the side and allow you to progress.

Cuevas Double Seals Memorable Salzburg Win

Die Vielchen continued their end of season resurgence by stunning league leaders Red Bull Salzburg by beating Marco Rose’s side 2-1 at the Generali Arena, with new permanent signing Cristian Cuevas scoring both goals. The game was already full of drama but the Chilean left back, sent the home fans wild with a late winner in the 87th minute with a stunning, powerful left footed strike into the far top corner, giving Stankovic no chance in the Salzburg goal. It was a victory for Austria Wien that moved them three points clear of third and fourth placed Sturm Graz and Rapid Wien in 2nd place, meaning a Champions League finish is still possible. However, the victory also lit a spark for Die Vielchen’s title bid as they moved just three points behind their opponents here at the Generali Arena with the victory.

A similar strike from Cuevas in the fourth minute had given Die Vielchen a very early lead in a huge game for both sides, however, despite the positive start Austria Wien then were put on the backfoot for the next twenty minutes as Salzburg pushed forward searching for an equaliser. There European competition hardened squad knew that they were going to lose ground in the title race with a defeat here, and key figures such as Zlatko Junuzovic and Munas Dabbur began to orchestrate the tie in the visitors favour. However a slight tactical tweak by Christopher Steegmann saw the home side turn the tide and start to control the game, pushing forward with more numbers, with Bright Edomwonyi going closest as he beat Stankovic with a tidy effort but failed to beat the post with the ball bouncing back and Stankovic managing to recover and pick the ball up and clutch it to his chest.

However, 14 minutes after the break Erling Haland had the visitors equaliser as in a rare second half counter attack for Salzburg the forward slid home inside the near post with Patrick Pentz making a rare mistake in Die Vielchen’s net. The young goalkeeper, who has had a fine season so far, was left wrong footed and will be frustrated to have allowed Haland’s effort to fizz past him inside his near post to level the scores. Pentz though was saved by Cuevas in the 87th minute as the Chilean, recently signed on a permanent deal from Huachipato, overlapped inside forward Dominik Prokop before thumping the ball past Stankovic to make it 2-1 and seal a memorable victory for Austria Wien as they closed in on their Champions League dream for next season.

Christopher Steegmann and his coaching staff were visibly delighted with the winning goal from 24 year old Cuevas, jumping off the bench as the home fans roared a deafening roar. After the poor run of form for Die Vielchen earlier in the season, the fans were thrilled to be back to winning ways as Die Vielchen made it three successive victories in the league with a win over one of their fiercest rivals.

Comments

Jack: Matic is a very good player but have really struggled to get the best out of him so far although he’s still been performing really well. Cuevas is a great steal though, has added some real quality down our left wing!

ScottT: Absolutely, will be key members of the squad if we’re going to have a prolonged European campaign next season.

Last Update: #33 Austria Wien Make Matic And Cuevas Deals Permanent
Next Update: #35 Austria Secure Champions League Football Despite Loss

Brilliant turnaround! Good to see two talented players join permanently, and then to go and beat RB Salzburg at home! The late winner will boost confidence for you and hopefully damage theirs. Time to push on and continue making your mark!

F*ck Red Bull! Well done sir, great win!

Huge victory for your side! It shows the quality is there within the squad, it's all about looking to maintain a consistent run of form for the entirety of the season if you want to push for the title next season. European football looks to be on the cards though!

Austria Secure Champions League Football Despite Loss

Austria Wien will attempt to qualify for the Group Stages of the UEFA Champions League next season, as they sealed a second placed finish in the Bundesliga this season, despite a disappointing 1-0 defeat to St. Polten at the NV Arena on the final round of games in this season’s Bundesliga campaign. Die Vielchen’s last appearance in Europe’s premier club competition was in 2013-14, the season after Austria’s last league title, where Die Vielchen struggled in a group containing established Champions League regulars in FC Porto and Zenit St. Petersburg as well as eventual runners up Atletico de Madrid, although the campaign will be fondly remembered for a stunning 4-1 victory over Zenit.

Austria will enter the competition during the qualifying phases next season, in the third qualifying round in the league half of the draw, making the route to the Group Stages more hazardous than if they had been crowned Champions. Last season, Sturm Graz, made no further progress in the Champions League, suffering an aggregate loss to Group Stage regulars FC Basel, meaning Austria Wien will have to be at their collective best if they are to progress from a potentially hazardous tie. As a result of having played no European football this season, Austria’s UEFA co-efficient currently sits at 16.00, meaning they will be unseeded for the draw, and will face one of either Zenit St. Petersburg, Shakhtar Donetsk or SL Benfica. Either FC Basel or Ajax will join the aforementioned trio in the seeded pot if they win their Second Qualifying Round tie.

Having suffered the disappointing defeat to St. Polten, courtesy of Alexander Borkovic’s own goal in the eight minute, the travelling Die Vielchen fans were anxious about their sides prospects of qualifying for the Champions League, but Sturm Graz’s defeat to Champions Red Bull Salzburg on Matchday 32 meant that the final spot in the Champions League was awarded to Austria. Speaking to fk-austria.at at full time Christopher Steegmann said: “It is an incredible achievement for this team to have qualified for the Champions League. It is a big step up on last season and considering the run we were on, only a few weeks ago, for us to have raised our game to get ourselves over the line is something the boys need to be very proud of.

Now, the wait for Die Vielchen fans begins, with the draw for the Second Qualifying Round taking place on July 23rd, with the first and second legs of the tie being played August 7th and August 14th.

Comments

Justice: Yeah I’m delighted to have them on board. They have been good for us this year and will be two key additions to the squad over the summer. They’ve used up a chunk of our budget for next year but they’re definitely worth it.

Jack: F*ck them indeed, they’ve been warned!

ScottT: A brilliant win, felt great to get one over them and really give them a middle finger! The squad is a good squad and with the right additions should be a real force in this league next season. Really excited for a European campaign though!

Last Update: #34 Cuevas Double Seals Memorable Salzburg Win
Next Update: #36 Month In Focus: May