The performance analysis team at RB Salzburg has begun its preparations for the Club World Cup, where they will face a variety of opponents. However, the recent coaching changes at all their group rivals have introduced a level of unpredictability, according to manager Thomas Letsch.
Salzburg secured their place in this revamped tournament in the United States by virtue of UEFA club rankings, joining a roster of 12 teams from Europe. They find themselves in Group H, competing against Real Madrid, Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal, and Mexico’s Pachuca.
Each of these teams comes with their own complexities: all have appointed new managers ahead of the tournament and each has reached the final of the previous Club World Cup format or the Intercontinental Cup at least once.
“With all three opponents having recently changed coaches, we’ve had to wipe the slate clean regarding our past preparations for them,” Letsch told Reuters.
“For our analysis department, this posed quite a challenge. There’s certainly an element of the unknown, even with Real Madrid now under Xabi Alonso.”
“I’m genuinely curious to see how this pans out, particularly against teams from Mexico and Saudi Arabia, as we have never faced them in any competition before,” he added.
Alonso stepped in for Carlo Ancelotti at Real Madrid, while Simone Inzaghi has taken over at Al-Hilal following Inter Milan’s significant defeat by Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final. Meanwhile, Pachuca has appointed Jaime Lozano as their new head coach.
The 56-year-old German manager faced Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen on three occasions in the Bundesliga when he was coaching Bochum.
“I don’t believe those past matches have any relevance for our upcoming encounter in the Club World Cup,” Letsch noted.
With the domestic league concluding on May 24th, Salzburg had limited time to prepare, as they are set to clash with Pachuca on June 18th.
“For us, the brief interval between the end of the season and our preparations for the Club World Cup felt similar to an extended international break,” Letsch remarked.
“We regrouped very quickly and you could instantly sense the enthusiasm among the squad for the tournament.”
“We resumed training on Monday, and already, we’ve introduced a noticeably different team compared to the last time we were in the Austrian Bundesliga.”
“I didn’t expect changes to occur so swiftly, but now we have four new signings and several promising home-grown players. It’s revitalising and represents a fresh start for us.“
Well-Deserved Opportunity
The qualification rules for European teams in the tournament permit three Champions League winners from the last four years, as well as the highest-ranked teams. However, each country is limited to a maximum of two teams unless they have more winners from that nation.
This regulation accounted for Liverpool, who did not qualify despite being ranked eighth in the UEFA standings, as Chelsea and Manchester City had secured the continental title in the last four years.
This scenario allowed Salzburg to enter the competition, despite their ranking of 18th in Europe, joining a field of 32 teams.
Salzburg’s young squad will face a formidable challenge against Al-Hilal, the 2022 Club World Cup runners-up, Pachuca, who reached last year’s Intercontinental final, and Real Madrid, the holders of a record nine Intercontinental/Club World Cup titles.
Letsch acknowledges that it will be challenging to set definitive goals going into the tournament. “Our aspiration is undeniably to achieve maximum success. We are incredibly excited about the (Club) World Cup and intend to present our best football, ensuring that everyone recognises that Salzburg rightfully belongs on this stage,” he stated.
Renowned for nurturing young talent and subsequently selling players to Europe’s elite clubs, Salzburg has been a launchpad for stars such as Erling Haaland, Karim Adeyemi, and Dominik Szoboszlai.
When asked if the Club World Cup presents an opportunity to showcase more young players, Letsch responded: “Salzburg is unequivocally dedicated to the development of young talents and providing them with the chance to perform at the highest level possible.”
“This is embedded in our DNA, and we wish to demonstrate this at the Club World Cup. However, we must approach this carefully and not just thrust young players into the fray without consideration. A balanced approach is essential.“
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Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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