Back to the drawing board for Salzburg after CWC opponents change managers

RB Salzburgs performance analysis department began early preparations for the Austrian teams opponents in the Club World Cup but the fact all of their group rivals have changed coaches has added an element of uncertainty, said manager Thomas Letsch.

Salzburg qualified for the revamped tournament in the United States based on UEFA club rankings, completing the list of 12 participating European teams. They are in Group H alongside Real Madrid, Al-Hilal of Saudi Arabia and Mexico’s Pachuca.

Those three teams share several traits: all of them changed their manager before the tournament and have reached either the final of the old-format Club World Cup or Intercontinental Cup at least once.

Since all three opponents have changed their coaches not too long ago, we had to forget everything we had prepared about them, Letsch told Reuters.

For our analysis department, this was quite a challenge. In this sense, there is a bit of the unknown, even with Real Madrid under Xabi Alonso.

I am definitely curious to see how it will be, especially against clubs from Mexico and Saudi Arabia, against whom we have never played in any competition he added.

Alonso replaced Carlo Ancelotti at Real Madrid, while Simone Inzaghi began his spell with Al-Hilal following Inter Milans heavy defeat by Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final. Meanwhile, Pachuca have appointed Jaime Lozano.

German coach Letsch, 56, faced Alonsos Bayer Leverkusen three times in the Bundesliga with his former side Bochum.

I dont think these games have any significance for the duel at the Club World Cup, explained Letsch.

Salzburg did not have much time to prepare as the domestic league ended on May 24. They face Pachuca on June 18.

For us, the very short break between the end of the championship and the preparation for the Club