Back to the drawing board for Salzburg after Club World Cup opponents change coaches

Salzburg qualified for the revamped tournament in the United States based on Uefa club rankings, completing the list of 12 participating European teams. PHOTO: REUTERS

UPDATED Jun 13, 2025, 10:47 PM

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SALZBURG – Austrian side RB Salzburg’s performance analysis department began early preparations for their opponents in the Club World Cup, but the fact that all their group rivals have changed coaches has added a huge element of uncertainty, said their coach 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 coach 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.”

Alonso replaced Carlo Ancelotti at Real, while Simone Inzaghi began his spell with Al-Hilal following Inter Milan’s heavy defeat by Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final.

Meanwhile, Pachuca have appointed Jaime Lozano.

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

“I don’t think these games have any significance for the duel at the Club World Cup,” said Letsch.

The European qualification rules for the tournament allow three Champions League winners from the past four years to qualify, along with the top-ranked teams.

However, a maximum of two teams from each country can enter if no other winners come from that nation.

This rule was why Liverpool, ranked eighth in the Uefa rankings, did not qualify, as Chelsea and Manchester City had won the continental title in the last four years.

That opened the way for Salzburg to enter the 32-team competition, despite being ranked 18th in Europe.

Salzburg are well-known for developing talented youngsters and then selling them to Europe’s biggest clubs. It has been the starting point for players like Erling Haaland, Karim Adeyemi and Dominik Szoboszlai.

They face a difficult challenge to reach the Round of 16 and Letsch believes that “it is not easy to define specific goals” before the tournament.

Asked whether the Club World Cup is an opportunity for them to showcase more players, Letsch said: “Salzburg is clearly committed to developing young players and giving them the opportunity to play at the highest possible level.

“However, we must not make the mistake of just throwing any young players into the mix.

“It definitely requires a delicate touch.” REUTERS

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