"I'm glad the team managed this difficult task"

The past few weeks have left their mark on the players. Although LASK controlled the match against Klagenfurt for much of the game, there were moments where their lack of self-assurance became apparent (see match report). However, with the necessary patience and, particularly, relentless determination, the Black and Whites managed to reward themselves and ultimately secure the victory.

"It was one of the toughest games since I've been allowed to be the coach here because I saw how much pressure the team also put on themselves. You could tell how much the mental aspect matters in football. I'm just happy for the team that they mastered this difficult task together. I'm very proud of that," said Coach Thomas Sageder after the 15th win with the Carinthians in the 20th encounter. The Linz team remains unbeaten against the team from Wörthersee.

One player who showed his cleverness was Felix Luckeneder, who paved the way to victory with his second goal of the season, following his goal on the first matchday against SK Rapid. "Those were very, very important three points. Being able to help the team with a set-piece goal makes it even more special," jubilated the 30-year-old. "It's a great story, and I'm really happy for him," added Sageder. Especially since set-piece situations were a significant part of the training content during the international break. "We worked very intensively on them here. However, what's always important is a certain level of determination," explained our head coach.

While Luckeneder provided the first black-and-white goal celebration since the 2-2 draw in February—also against Klagenfurt—Tobias Lawal once again kept a clean sheet on the other end, marking his twelfth shutout in the Bundesliga. "That's quite something," Sageder tipped his hat to his goalkeeper. "He's doing fantastic. Of course, with Philip Großalber as a great goalkeeper coach and the support from the entire team, he's in good hands."

The success is intended to give momentum for the upcoming challenges. Next Sunday, LASK will travel to face SK Sturm (get away tickets here), and a week later, league leaders Salzburg will visit the Raiffeisen Arena (secure your tickets now). "I hope this win helps us on our journey," said Sageder.