Rapid Vienna injury concern ahead of Hearts as ace playing on 'completely different level' after 42-year first
Rapid Vienna have a star on fire at the moment while another is a fitness doubt.
Rapid Vienna face an injury sweat over one star ahead of facing Hearts - as another takes his game to new heights.
The Austrian Bundesliga club stand between the Jambos and a league phase spot in the Conference League this season. Rapid are at Tynecastle for leg one of the pair’s play-off on Thursday before a return leg in Vienna next week. Hearts know a tough task awaits them with Johannes Hoff Thorup’s side in electric form, scoring 15 goals in four qualifier matches so far, and maintaining their 100% domestic start by routing Grazer AK 8-0 at the weekend.
It came at some cost though with centre-back Jakob Scholler being taken off with an injury concern shortly after appearing as as substitute. He has captained Rapid on occasion this term, aged only 20, and claims made in Austria state Scholler may be unavailable at Tynecastle. Attacking midfielder Tonni Adamsen is one player Hearts will be on alert over after he netted four against Grazer, and his manager has been wowed by the man signed from Silkeborg, after forming a strong partnership in final third areas with forward Ercan Kara.
What player do Hearts need to be aware of vs Rapid Vienna?
Speaking after Rapid's biggest home league win in 42 years, Thorup said: "That's wonderful, of course. But you also have to acknowledge that a lot of it was a team effort. It's the result of the work the team built from the back.
“I think we're seeing really good performances at the moment when they're on the pitch together. Tonni has a good feel for the right position in the penalty area. He's playing at a completely different level than I've seen from him before. Especially off the ball, he's working incredibly hard at the moment."
"It was good football from us, with many good moments and a lot of high quality. But most important is the team, which sticks together through thick and thin. The team that makes sure we compensate for each other's mistakes, that makes sure we make runs for each other. I think that was the first time in my coaching career that I actually had moments where I could sit back and simply enjoy watching my team.”
Rapid Vienna on 8-0 win ahead of Hearts
Adamsen said of his four-goal haul: “It’s a wonderful feeling. Of course, it’s wonderful to score four goals in a match, but what a team performance! We played really well from start to finish. It was a really good game for Rapid.
“There is a wonderful atmosphere at every game. That was already the case during the warm-up matches, but today it was something else entirely. It was truly magnificent—and at times so loud that it was hard to understand one another. But it worked out. Of course, scoring four goals is special. But you also have to acknowledge that it was a team effort. I’d say three of my goals were tap-ins. The team builds up the attacks, and I finish them off. I’m very happy about my four goals and, of course, that we scored eight in total."