Fall season review with Stefan Kenesei

The first half of the 2023/24 season is over - the perfect time for a brief interim review. After nine games, the Violets are in fifth place in the table with 13 points. Together with the Violets' head coach, we take a look at the highlights, the challenges and the biggest lessons that he and his coaching team have learned from the first half of the season.

Stefan, let's take a look back at the first half of the season together: what was your goal?

Stefan Kenesei: "The aim of the was to continue on the path of professionalization due to the major squad upheaval in the summer. It takes time to implement the playing idea in the team and then to get games on the pitch. The aim is for fans to be able to recognize what kind of soccer Austria Wien stands for. In terms of position, the aim was to keep up with the best teams in the league."

Have you achieved or been able to achieve these goals?

"In terms of points, more would have been possible, we have to be more efficient in the spring, that's for sure. However, I'm very satisfied with the passion, commitment and development of the playing idea. We are all working very hard every day as a team to take steps in the right direction. Of course, a few more points would have been desirable, but we can still get them in the second half of the season."

What would you describe as your best highlight or biggest learning?

"Spontaneously, of course, I can think of the point away to Altach at the end of the season, which was certainly a highlight. It shows that we're on the right track. The home games were also very positive, as we were usually able to come out on top. The duels for the direct table positions were certainly disappointing, as we weren't able to win them, so we have to work on that."

More and more academy players are playing in the Bundesliga. How do you see the development of the young talents?

"The integration of the young players is working very well for the most part. Of course, you have to be patient with them, but we are very blessed with our academy and there are always new talents pushing for a spot in the Bundesliga. I would also like to highlight the work of the coaches in our academy, they do a great job. As a coach at Austria Wien, you certainly can't complain about the work being done with young talent."

What do you expect from the spring?

"Of course I'd like to get more points, that's obvious. Above all, we have to annoy the opponents ahead of us in the league, I'm convinced of our potential. Furthermore, of course, we have to continue to work on what we have started, to have fun and enjoy developing the team and the individual players. I don't want to set the goal in terms of a specific position in the table, we are still in the quarter-finals of the cup and still have the chance to achieve a lot this season and will of course do everything we can to be as successful as possible."