Squad planning in full swing

Name: FK Austria Wien
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The preparations for the spring season have picked up speed. The team has been back on the training pitch since Wednesday after completing performance tests and is getting fit for the upcoming games. First and foremost, of course, for the four remaining games in the basic round.

FK Austria Wien/Heinz Köhler

"We have put ourselves in a good position after 18 rounds, of course we want to seize the chance to qualify for the championship group," says sport director Manuel Ortlechner, who was only able to really switch off for a few days during the Christmas break.

He worked in the Generali-Arena until 23 December, after which there was a short time for his family, before the holiday was interrupted again and again by various talks and negotiations. Often it was about squad planning. "We have our considerations and are holding very intensive talks internally. There is hardly any room for manoeuvre at the moment, which is why we are already planning very concretely in the direction of the summer and also want to extend one or two contracts. We are on the right track."

Manuel Ortlechner and Tristan Hammond

FK Austria Wien/Heinz Köhler

Ortlechner's access is simple. "Something can still happen in the winter, something will happen in the summer," explains the sporting director, who is pleased that with Florian Wustinger, one of the violets' young talents has once again found his way into the team squad: "That is our way!"

"I am satisfied with how we presented ourselves, but of course we can always do better," he sums up the autumn. Together with the coaching team and the squad, he is already fully focused on the remaining programme before the division.

Altach (a), Hartberg (h), WAC (h), Admira (a) are the pairings. "Where we stand after these games will determine the last third of our season. I see it as positive pressure and think that we can make small steps forward again if we get through the preparation without injuries and get our players like Suttner or Huskovic, who have been injured for a while, back soon."

Coach Manfred Schmid (m.) with his Assistents McCormick (r.) and Sekerlioglu

FK Austria Wien/Heinz Köhler

Important points for the next few weeks for Ortlechner are "the right pandemic management, whereby we are very happy that we can do our job at all" as well as the upcoming members meeting on 17 January. "A lot depends on that, it's about the future."

Speaking of the future Ortlechner is hoping for half-full stadiums again. "I wish for our fans back, because they are an important factor at our games. We need them and want them back by our side as soon as possible."

Saturday will be the first test. Due to the current Corona situation without spectators, the opponent is SC Mannswörth.