Hibs' Sallinger Aims to Avoid Scottish Collapse in Europe
Raphael Sallinger sat among the Hearts support at Tynecastle on Tuesday night and watched their European hopes unravel. By the final whistle, the scoreboard read 2-0 to Sturm Graz and 6-0 on aggregate – Hearts’ heaviest ever defeat over two legs in Europe.
Now the Hibs goalkeeper is determined that the next Scottish side to suffer embarrassment on the continent will not be his own.
From Tynecastle spectator to Easter Road last line
Sallinger had a personal reason to be in Gorgie. This was not a scouting mission or a gloating exercise.
“My missus actually works for Sturm Graz as a nutritionist so it was obviously clear for me to go and watch her at Tynecastle,” the Austrian explained. “She's not over in Scotland very often. She'll be at our game tomorrow as well to support me.
“Sturm are a very good team. Of course there were a few conversations when we knew they were playing Hearts, but only about small details, nothing special. I'm happy for them that they went through.”
He left Tynecastle pleased for his partner and her club, but under no illusions. Scottish sides can be punished brutally in Europe when standards drop. Hearts found that out the hard way.
Hibs are already halfway down a similar path.
They trail 2-0 to Malisheva after a dismal first leg in Kosovo, and face the prospect of a humiliating exit to a club widely labelled as minnows when the tie was drawn. On Thursday night at Easter Road, they need a performance that bears no resemblance to last week’s offering.
“These are the moments”
Sallinger does not try to sugar-coat what happened in the first leg. The dressing room has had to confront it.
“We as a group spoke about a lot of things which went wrong in that game. There are clearly things we can improve on, but we've worked very well this week,” he said.
The mood has shifted from frustration to defiance.
“These are the moments where you can see what character is in this team and we will show that character tomorrow.
“It doesn't matter which side we're playing against. The main target is getting through to the third round of the Conference League.”
The message is simple: forget reputations, forget the name on the opposition shirts. Hibs have left themselves with no margin for error, and Sallinger knows it.
No room for another Scottish collapse
Hearts’ collapse against Sturm Graz has already set an uncomfortable backdrop to Hibs’ task. Another Scottish club tumbling out of Europe with a whimper would sting, particularly across the Edinburgh divide.
Sallinger is focused only on the response.
“We have to make sure we win tomorrow. We don't want to look back too much on the last game. All we can do is look forward and try to change things around.”
The goalkeeper has seen up close what a ruthless, well-drilled European side can do to a Scottish opponent. Now, under the lights at Easter Road, he will stand in goal with the weight of a tie – and a little of Scotland’s pride – resting on what Hibs do next.
