RB Salzburg boss Pep Lijnders makes bold Sheffield Wednesday prediction after pre-season friendly
Pep Lijnders has spoken highly of Sheffield Wednesday after his RB Salzburg side beat them in a pre-season friendly.
Sheffield Wednesday have travelled to Germany and Austria for their second of two pre-season training camps, with their first friendly taking place at the Red Bull Arena.
The Owls were thrashed 4-0 by Lijnders’ side, but put on a respectable performance against Champions League opposition.
Formerly Jurgen Klopp’s assistant at Liverpool, Lijnders took over as RB Salzburg’s head coach at the end of the season and had already guided his side to three victories in four friendlies this summer.
Despite a comfortable win for the hosts, the Dutchman was eager to praise Wednesday and has tipped them to avoid relegation next term.
Sheffield Wednesday ‘will not leave it to the last match’
Speaking to The Star, Lijnders said: “When we analysed them, I think it was so important to know where they were coming from.
“We always saw that if we wanted to play a good game we had to respect what they were doing, a really good strong point for them was their double six and how they came behind our striker with one always free and how the wanted to combine.
“Second was their corners, though they didn’t have many I don’t think. Third was their counter attacks. They left strikers up there and one always up. There was a clear idea and I think if they really play like that, they will not leave it to the last match in the Championship.”
The Owls should take confidence from Ljinders’ praise
Wednesday are only into their second friendly of the summer, while it was Salzburg’s fourth.
The Owls were never really expected to match the Austrian giants and they certainly didn’t, but Lijnders clearly saw some competition in them, and to receive praise from the 41-year-old is a very promising sign.
The former Liverpool coach has worked with the very best at Anfield and is now plying his trade with another top European club, so there is no doubt that he knows what he is talking about.
Wednesday don’t have to win every game they play in pre-season, but if they can continue receiving praise from opposition then Danny Rohl will know he’s doing something right.
