Salzburg boss: “If market value decided matches, it’s obvious who’d win…” | OneFootball

This Thursday, Salzburg plays its 14th official match of the season, but they are going through a less successful period – a draw and two consecutive defeats in the Austrian championship. The team is preparing to host FC Porto, which arrives in Mozart's hometown riding on six victories in six matches. Thomas Letsch, Salzburg's coach, avoids illusions about ambitions in the competition but calls for courage from his players.

“We have a high-caliber opponent in front of us, we are happy to face FC Porto, a top team, they participated in the Club World Cup and have a new coach. It will be an interesting challenge, assuming the standings are not yet of great importance,” began the 57-year-old German coach.

“They have a team full of world-class players, the coach has changed the game quite a bit compared to previous years. With Farioli, FC Porto exerts great pressure. They have only conceded one goal, and that already shows how they play, they have clear patterns, a lot of speed, and we have to act with courage to face them. We cannot falter, because that won't work…,” he added.

The coach also referred to some of the main elements of the blue and whites. “Samu is a player everyone would like to have on their team, he is difficult to control. Alan Varela is a key player in the team, but there are others too. In goal, there is Diogo Costa, who has many international appearances. We talk about market value, but fortunately, that’s not what decides the games, because if it were, it would be clear who would win,” he remarked, noting that currently, according to ‘Transfermarkt’, FC Porto has a market value of 365.3 million euros and Salzburg of 130 million euros. “We will enter with respect, but always without fear,” he assured, placing the hosts among the candidates to win the Europa League.

“FC Porto is one of the teams capable of winning the Europa League. But we are just starting the competition, so it’s too early to say if they can win or not. Porto has one of the best teams in this competition and we want to challenge them. If we are in tune, we can give everyone a fight. We have to focus on our game,” highlighted the coach, who during the training session open to journalists greeted the Portuguese professionals in good Portuguese, recalling that he lived in Lisbon for some time.

Schlager versus Diogo

Alexander Schlager, the goalkeeper who usually assumes the starting position at Salzburg, was the spokesperson for the locker room in the preview of the game against the dragons. The 29-year-old Austrian international called for a reaction from the team in light of the less positive moment.

“We have to be 100% in all details, nothing better than playing against top teams, we need perfect days and that’s also what we train for. We will give everything. We have to start games well and gain a sense of security. Have self-confidence regardless of the results of past games,” he stated, preparing to measure forces with one of the most renowned goalkeepers on the international scene in his position.

“Diogo Costa is one of the elite goalkeepers, he has improved a lot in recent years. I am very excited to play against him, happy to share the field with him, but I want to play my game,” admitted Schlager.

The game is not expected to sell out: up to 10,000 spectators are expected at the Red Bull Arena, one of the stadiums that hosted Euro 2008 games, including about 1,500 FC Porto fans in the stands.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.