Salzburg's crisis: Defensive weaknesses threaten title dreams!

Salzburg's crisis: Defensive weaknesses threaten title dreams!

It has not run smoothly for Red Bull Salzburg in the past few weeks. After six match days, the Salzburgers are found in second place in the Bundesliga table with 11 points, tied with Altach, but behind the rival Rapid Vienna, which mercilessly takes advantage of the decorated weaknesses of the Salzburg. The record of three wins, two draws and one defeat shows that the last two games did not run optimally either: a 1: 3 defeat against Wolfsberg ringed the alarm bells. An additional five goals in the last two games make the defensive uncertainties unmistakable.

The team's defensive, which is guided by coach Pepijn Lijnders in the new season, is particularly problematic. Lijnders, who previously worked as an assistant coach under Jürgen Klopp at Liverpool, does not quite come out of the starting blocks. Although he tried to implement the famous counterpressing philosophy of Klopp, it has been shown that this did not have a hoped-for stability on the defensive. The game system has changed, but the balance between attack and defense falls by the wayside, which is reflected in a larger number of gated goals than in the previous seasons.

Defensive battles and tactical adjustments

The defensive is currently an Achilles' heel, especially in standard situations. Trainer Lijnders has changed the defensive structure, which means that Salzburg plays more aggressive, but the central defenders often stumble and cannot keep up with the game pace. The results are sobering: the passes by defensive action (PPDA) have increased from 7.24 to 7.73, which indicates a falling ability to recapture the ball. This makes it easier to recognize and take advantage of weaknesses in defense.

The average age of the starting XI is one of the lowest in the league. Talents such as Amar Dedic, Maurits Kjaergaard and Karim Konate will work on the future, but the lack of clear leaders after the departure of experienced top performers can falter the young team. At this point, the personal tactics of Lijnders play a crucial role. The focus on high pressure has its advantages and disadvantages, but the team no longer presses as a unit, which increases their vulnerability, especially against teams who understand to avoid the pressing style.

Upcoming challenges

In the coming weeks, not only the national league is on the program for Salzburg, but also the decisive games in the Europa League. On September 25, a home game against Porto is waiting for the young troop, followed by further challenges against Lyon and Aston Villa. These games could be groundbreaking for the new trainer and his young team. A clear tactic and sufficient adaptability are required in this phase to regain the desired stability and success.

It remains to be seen whether Lijnders can create the right conditions to consolidate the defensive order and collect the necessary points. The pressure grows - Salzburg will create the turn or will finally go to the season? Time will show it.