Philipp Wiesinger about Austria Vienna, return to Linz and FC Red Bull Salzburg

After Philip Wiesinger butter first part of the exclusive Ligaportal-Give-me-five-interviews (5 questions = 5 answers) an honest look at his three-and-a-half-year injury spell, says the 30-year-old defender from ADMIRAL Bundesliga– The third party FK Austria Vienna butter either about the violets that have been blooming for weeks, FC Red Bull Salzburg and the last away game of the favorites at SHOTwhere the top game of the 15th round will take place on December 1 (5pm, LIVE TICKET league portal) comes to Wiesinger’s meeting with his former club and returns to Linz.

Philipp Wiesinger is looking forward again… and now even higher with Austrian Vienna. In the highest match of the 14th round in the Bundesliga ADMIRAL against TSV Hartberg (Sunday, 17 pm, LIVE TICKET league portal), the 30-year-old central defender aims for the sixth BL three points of the season with the Violets (W5, D1), who are unbeaten at home. And if the winning streak lasts until the winter break and head coach Stephan Helm’s side get maximum points in the two games at home against TSV Hartberg & SCR Altach and away at LASK, the team in third place with 33 points could plan early for the top. playoff in the spring. Speaking of spring… in 2025 the violets will start with the “SK Sturm double”, away in Graz with the ÖFB Cup and the tournament.

“At the time I played at FC Liefering, Red Bull Salzburg was full of world stars like Mané”

LIGAPORTAL: You are from Salzburg, come from the AKA Salzburg youth team and played for FC Liefering. Did FC Red Bull Salzburg take you over or never wanted you?

PHILIP WIESINGER: This is in winter (Note: January 2016) it went very fast. At the time I played for FC Liefering, FC Red Bull Salzburg was full of world stars like Sadio Mané! The opportunity arose for me to go to Linz because Oliver Glasner became the head coach at LASK. At Liefering, I didn’t know what would happen again this summer. Then I heard about LASK and that they wanted to be promoted to Bundesliga.

LASK is not a small club in Austria, but it always has great potential. At that time too. All of that sounded very interesting to me. That’s why I decided to do it. In the end it turned out that was not so wrong. When you see how successful LASK has been over the years. So after that I didn’t care if it would have been enough for Salzburg. Now it can’t change at all so it worked out very well for me.

This year in May, Philipp Wiesinger said goodbye to former LASK sporting director Radovan Vujanovic after 173 appearances and eight and a half years with promotion to the Bundesliga, big European Cup nights and success with athletes Linz. That’s how fast it happens in football… just six months later, the all-round defender returns to his “old football home” with Vienna Austria.

“…then the journey can end dramatically at the end of the season”

LIGAPORTAL: And now it is evident that it is very appropriate in Austria Vienna. Your Bundesliga return and debut for the Violets came after coming on as a substitute in, of all places, the Vienna derby on 22 September. You were brought in gradually, you have now become an integral part of the team and you have provided defensive stability with the central defensive group over 30 around the veterans Dragović & Galvão. Five wins en suite recently, with only two goals conceded, 3rd place The violets are growing, where will the journey take us this season and how much are you looking forward to ‘ last away game of the year on 1 December at your former club. LASK in the Linz Raiffeisen Arena, when it opens on February 24, 2023, you will make your only appearance over the full distance in the BL 2022/23 season?

PHILIP WIESINGER: Yes, the last five or six games were very successful for us in terms of results. We have become very stable and have a good basic structure in our system and in terms of resource. But we already know that there is still room for improvement in terms of play. We work hard every day to make sure we implement the processes even better. So that it doesn’t matter who plays in a position. It is important that everyone in their situation knows what they have to do. We are on the right track there.

If we continue to work hard, the journey can end big at the end of the season. Of course, as players we always set ourselves the highest goals. We want to consolidate the top six in the last three games before the winter break. Our goal as a team is to be represented internationally next season. That’s the main goal for me, the team and the club. This is entirely possible with our troops and staff around us.

We want to get a maximum of nine points in the last three games before the winter break. Then we will be sure of the playoffs above. This is entirely possible with the flow and enthusiasm we have been showing lately. But of course it’s not a sure fire success and everyone has to push their performance limits again. Then this is definitely possible for us. Now it’s against Hartberg. I think there is an opponent who can respond well to us.

Austria is “developing in the right direction again, there is positive energy there”

Next week we are going to LASK. Basically I was able to open the new stadium in Linz with the team against Austria Lustenau. That was an amazing time. Walking in front of the fans’ stand for the first time was a goosebumps moment for me. I am grateful that I experienced that and that it was because of my injury at the time. That was really good. The return will definitely be emotional because I already know some of the players and management there.

The LASK fans were also special to me. But of course I’m going there to win. I am now at Austria Vienna and very happy here. I was really well received. It’s really fun. The club is developing in the right direction again. There is positive energy there. Everyone wants to push something forward. You will notice that too. The feeling is good again.

Of course, the game at LASK is special for me, where I want to take the three points with Austria and go home with a good feeling.

LIGAPORTAL: Thank you for the open, interesting interview. Continued success and all the best.

The interview was conducted by the editor-in-chief of Ligaportal, Herbert Pumann

Photo courtesy: Josef Parak and Harald Dostal/www.sport-bilder.at

See also:

Preview ADMIRAL BL Rd. 14: Long-distance duel between SK Sturm and SK Rapid for a “place in the sun”

Bundesliga expert Baumi’s prediction for round 14: Three home runs, two draws, one away win

𝐄𝐂𝐇𝐓 𝐋𝐄𝐖𝐈𝐀𝐍𝐃. 𝐂𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐫 𝐃𝐮̈𝐡𝐣𝐡𝐡𝐫𝐬-𝐀𝐛𝐨 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓. 💜

🔜 On Sunday, after our home game against Hartberg, our spring subscription goes down https://t.co/R1N4ulsP2l & sold in the local fan shop! This already applies to the home game against Altach on the 8th… pic.twitter.com/4fjDkWfbS9

– FK Austria Vienna (@FKAustriaWien) November 21, 2024