The performance analysis team at RB Salzburg has commenced early preparations for the Austrian side’s upcoming fixtures in the Club World Cup. However, the recent coaching changes at all their group rivals have introduced an element of unpredictability, according to manager Thomas Letsch.
Salzburg secured their spot in the restructured tournament taking place in the United States due to their UEFA club rankings, thus becoming one of the 12 European teams participating. They have been drawn into Group H, where they will face Real Madrid, Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal, and Mexico’s Pachuca.
These three teams share commonalities: each has hired a new manager ahead of the tournament and has reached either the final of the traditional Club World Cup or the Intercontinental Cup at least once.
“Given that all three opponents have recently changed coaches, we’ve had to set aside our previous preparations regarding them,” Letsch told Reuters.
“This has posed quite a challenge for our analysis department, especially considering the uncertainty surrounding Real Madrid under Xabi Alonso.”
“I’m genuinely eager to see how things unfold, particularly against the clubs from Mexico and Saudi Arabia, with whom we have yet to compete in any tournament,” he added.
Alonso took over from Carlo Ancelotti at Real Madrid, while Simone Inzaghi commenced his tenure with Al-Hilal following Inter Milan’s crushing defeat by Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final. Concurrently, Pachuca have appointed Jaime Lozano as their new head coach.
The 56-year-old German manager, Letsch, has previously faced Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen thrice in the Bundesliga while managing Bochum.
“I don’t believe those previous encounters hold any relevance for our clash in the Club World Cup,” Letsch explained.
Salzburg had limited time to prepare since the domestic league concluded on May 24. Their opening match is against Pachuca on June 18.
“The brief interval between the conclusion of our championship and our preparations for the Club World Cup felt akin to an extended international break,” Letsch noted.
“We reunited quickly, and it was evident that everyone was buzzing with excitement about the tournament.”
“We resumed training on Monday and already fielded a substantially different squad compared to our last outing in the Austrian Bundesliga.”
“I honestly didn’t anticipate this shift would occur so swiftly, yet we now have four fresh signings from outside and several promising young players from our academy. It’s revitalising for us—it feels like a fresh start.”
Fully Earned
The qualification rules for European teams in the tournament allow for three Champions League winners from the past four years, alongside the top-ranked clubs.
However, each nation can only send a maximum of two teams if no further winners emerge from that country.
This stipulation led to Liverpool, who sit eighth in the UEFA rankings, missing out, as Chelsea and Manchester City claimed the continental title in the last four years.
This opened the door for Salzburg to enter the competition, which will host 32 teams, despite being ranked 18th in Europe.
Salzburg possesses a youthful squad that will contend against Al-Hilal—runners-up in the 2022 Club World Cup—Pachuca, who reached the Intercontinental final last year, and Real Madrid, who boast a record nine Intercontinental/Club World Cup titles.
Letsch acknowledges the challenging task of advancing to the Round of 16 and asserts that “it is difficult to establish specific objectives” prior to the tournament.
“Our goal is undoubtedly to achieve the utmost success. We are incredibly enthusiastic about the (Club) World Cup and wish to demonstrate our best performance, so that everyone acknowledges that Salzburg rightly belongs in this competition,” he added.
Salzburg is well-regarded for cultivating young talent, often selling players to the largest clubs in Europe. They have been a stepping stone for talents like Erling Haaland, Karim Adeyemi, and Dominik Szoboszlai.
When asked if the Club World Cup presents an opportunity for Austria’s 17-time champions to spotlight more players, Letsch replied: “Salzburg is firmly dedicated to nurturing young talent and providing them the chance to perform at the highest level possible.
“This is embedded in our culture, and we aim to highlight this at the Club World Cup. However, we must avoid the pitfall of indiscriminately integrating young players. It’s a delicate balance that requires careful consideration.”
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Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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