On Sunday afternoon (2:30 pm), the Violets will face Blau-Weiß Linz away from home in the opening match of the championship group. The guest sector has been sold out for several days. Head coach Stephan Helm is building on internal cohesion and believes his team is ready for the task ahead: ‘We want to go home with a sense of achievement!’

Coach Stephan Helm on ...

... the international break:
‘We had a perfect preparation time including a long week of training. Everyone came back healthy from their national teams. The boys are hungry and in a good mood. If we play the way we're currently training, we can look positively to the future.’

... the upcoming ‘English week’:
‘We have two games in close succession with Blau-Weiß away and Hartberg in the Cup, but we don't need to take much notice of that. We'll do everything we can to get the maximum out of Linz. Then we'll concentrate on Hartberg. Our squad is very balanced, we can also add from the bench.’

... the upcoming opponent:
‘It would be presumptuous to speak of a compulsory task. Blau-Weiß deserve to be in the top 6. They have a coach with a lot of experience and a wide-ranging squad that should by no means be underestimated. We know what we're up against and have done a lot of research into our opponents. We know their strengths but, as always, we're relying on ours first and foremost. We want to go home with a sense of achievement.’

... the development of the team:
‘With us, everyone stands up for each other. That's what every club and every fan wants. We've had to work hard for this and we can be proud of it. The composition of the team is great, the many personalities fit together well. Everyone puts their ego last. We first tried to become defensively stable. Then we went one step further, pressing, switching play. We now have a clear structure with and without the ball. Nevertheless, we're still nowhere near our peak.’

... Sharing points and league mode:
‘It's a special challenge. We only want to look at the positive aspects. We can only grow in these top games. We're only focussing on Blau-Weiß Linz. What comes after that, comes after that. Just like we've always done. I don't know what will happen in eight or ten weeks' time. These speculations are energy robbers for me.’

Sporting director Manuel Ortlechner on ...

... the final league phase:
‘We completed the basic round brilliantly. That gives us courage for the upcoming crunch time. Ten tough games await us, plus ideally two bonus games. We're in the thick of it instead of just in it. We know that the teams in the championship group didn't get there for no reason.’

... their own expectations:  
‘The league has become ever closer in recent years. You're always wrong with predictions anyway. The range of what we can and can't achieve is very wide this year. We have a good feeling and are approaching the tasks positively, but are well advised to stay in the here and now. The next game, the next pass. I think we all think very similarly in the team. So far, no-one has had their chain knocked out.’

... Top scorer Ronivaldo:
‘I witnessed his ordeal back then as a team-mate. His career was hanging by a thread. He has a great attitude and is a consummate professional. I'm delighted for him that he's proving his qualities so impressively in the autumn of his career. He's one of the best strikers in the country. We have the utmost respect for him.’

Squad news

Marko Raguž is back in full training after suffering an injury in the friendly against Vienna. Apart from the long-term injuries, Stephan Helm can draw from the full squad in Linz.