Rapid trainer Ferdinand Feldhofer on Matchplan in Genk: "Twice as exciting"

To overwinter in Europe, SK Rapid needs a win in Genk today. With third place, the bottom group from Hütteldorf would enter the knockout phase of the Conference League.

The starting position before today’s Europa League clash in Group H on the last day of the game is clear for Rapid: Second place is out of reach, with a win, however, bottom Rapid Rapid would overtake KRC Genk and hibernate with third place in the Conference League. Anything but three points mean the end.

For the Belgians, the game is by no means insignificant – with a win against Rapid Genk could climb to second place if Dinamo Zagreb fails against West Ham (as expected).

“We’re looking forward to this final on the European stage, the starting position is very clear for us, we have to win. Genk can even remain in the Europa League, but lose everything if we lose,” said Rapid trainer Ferdinand Feldhofer Cards on the table.

Feldhofer already wintered once internationally with the WAC, but failed in the Europa League sixteenth-finals to Tottenham. “Achieving that with a second team would be something special. We will do everything we can to achieve the knockout phase,” announced Feldhofer.

Feldhofer: “Obviously what is missing”

Lessons should be learned in advance from the 1-1 draw against Vienna Austria – the derby performance would probably not be enough for a win in Belgium. “It was obvious what was missing: that is the efficiency. I am so self-confident that I know that we will get our chances. We have to use them,” says Feldhofer.

Genk’s chances of staying in the Europa League make the game doubly explosive. Genk will probably play to win – that could open up space for Rapid. “For them the situation is doubly exciting. We’ll see how things stand between West Ham United and Dinamo Zagreb and see if Genk will change tactically,” says Feldhofer.

What exactly Rapid expects will be even more difficult to predict due to the coaching situation in Genk. Coach John van den Brom was sacked on Monday and his assistants Glen Riddersholm and Domenico Oliveiri are taking over for Thursday’s game. “It won’t change that much, they won’t have the greatest self-confidence. With the way we play football, we can hurt our opponents,” Feldhofer speculates.