Salzburg's master coach Oliver David: A way full of sleepless nights!

Salzburg's master coach Oliver David: A way full of sleepless nights!

Salzburg, Österreich - Oliver David led Red Bull Salzburg to the second championship as a head coach in his second year. After the summer of 2023 he succeeded the successful trainer Matt Mcilvane. David describes that he had numerous sleepless nights in the early stages of the season and had to reflect on the challenges. He describes his team as special, with a hungry attitude, regardless of their experience. Salzburg receives special support from Thomas Raffl, the oldest player, and Chay Genovay, who acts as a viewer during the playoffs.

The high standard and the pressure at Red Bull are factors for David. He remembers the nervousness at the beginning of the decisive game against Klagenfurt, which, however, quickly laid after the team achieved a power play goal. Despite Salzburg's difficulties in the season against teams from the lower half of the table, David emphasizes the importance of the Champions Hockey League (Chl), in which his team competed against top European teams. It is particularly important in the playoffs to find the rhythm and to avoid unscathed mistakes.

Champions Hockey League as a challenge

The Champions Hockey League is the highest European Cup competition for ice hockey teams, founded in 2014. Salzburg took part in all five issues of the competition and meets Red Bull in the semi-finals. Both teams could not get beyond the round of 16 in the past. Munich won in the quarterfinals against Malmö Redhawks, while Salzburg reached the semi -finals after a draw against Kärpät Oulu.

The first matchup between Salzburg and Munich will soon start. Tickets for the home game in Munich were sold out more than three weeks in advance. The second leg will take place on January 16 in Salzburg. Salzburg has won six EBEL titles and a total of eight Austrian titles in the past 12 years. Munich has been very successful in the DEL in recent years and is considered a favorite by many this season.

team spirit and strategies

Salzburg's players, including John Hughes, see themselves as underdogs, but believe in their victory. Munich, on the other hand, plans to specify the tone in the home game and move into the final. The coaches of both teams, Oliver David and Greg Poss, have already developed strategies to prepare their teams as best as possible for the upcoming matches. David describes the atmosphere in the Salzburg team as calm and positive, without space for complacency.

With the current season, which is already in full swing in 2024/25, not only Salzburg, but also the entire ice hockey world, looks excited about the upcoming semi -finals of the Champions Hockey League. The final games are scheduled for February 5, and the pressure to get the best out of themselves is high for everyone involved.