Red Bull Salzburg in crisis: Coach and captain speak plainly!

Red Bull Salzburg in crisis: Coach and captain speak plainly!

Red Bull Salzburg is still in a deep crisis after the team was unable to win in its fourth competitive game under new coach Thomas Letsch. Last weekend the match against Austria Klagenfurt ended in a disappointing 0-0 draw. The team showed a shockingly weak performance, especially in the first half, which captain Mads Bidstrup also confirmed in an interview with “Sky”. He said: “We wasted the first 45 minutes.” Ultimately, the improved performance in the second half was not enough to win the game.

Problems and injuries weigh on the Bulls

The patience of fans and those responsible is already running out. Bidstrup said: "It shouldn't take that long, it's already far too long, now we don't have any more time." Coach Letsch sees the players' uncertainty and points out that the momentum can only come back with a win. Salzburg are currently closer to the qualifying group than to the league leaders, which are already ten points away.

Particularly tragic was the injury-related substitution of new signing Takuma Kawamura, who had to leave the game early after a fall and a shoulder injury. Letsch reports that things “do not look good” for Kawamura and the player was taken to the hospital. This situation could put an enormous strain on Salzburg, who are already struggling with a strained squad, as demonstrated by the signing of Karim Onisiwo, who will act as a source of experience.

The basic rules of football

Since the discussion about the rules of the game in football often arises, it is important to know that they are set according to clear guidelines. According to those responsible at FIFA and the International Football Association Board (IFBA), the rules are extensive and constantly evolving. More than 100 pages contain the 17 main rules that are crucial for every game. One of the most significant innovations in recent years is the introduction of up to five substitutions due to the pandemic and the use of the video assistant assistant (VAR), which is used to support the referees in controversial decisions, as reported on em2024.org. These adjustments show how dynamic the world of football is and that there will probably be many more such rule changes in the future.