Otto Addo was back in front of the media for his pre-Austria press conference at the Ernst Happel Stadium in Vienna on Thursday.
Our head coach was asked to provide the latest team news, share his thoughts on our opposition and more. Here’s everything he had to say on the following subjects…
On expectations
We're very pleased to be here. I think it will be a very, very interesting game tomorrow. Surely, we expect an intense game. As all the Austria matches are, and everybody knows they have a coach who likes to press high, a little bit of Red Bull school. So, this is what we expect. We know that they are very, very good side, very, very physical, very, very high intensity, with a lot of runs. The profiles of the players are really, high. They play good clubs. But we also have good players, good footballers.
On facing two European sides
It will be very, very interesting for us after a long period to play in Europe against a European team. I think both teams will be very, very good test match.
On missing Inaki and Thomas-Asante
If somebody gets injured, it's always not a good situation. I think Iñaki had a good form, and Brendan came back from his injury. Before that, he also scored a lot of goals. So, yeah, I'm really, sorry for them. But it will be a good possibility also for the others to show themselves. I'm very, very happy that the team seems to be in good shape. Ransford Königsdorffer came to replace them and he’s been good. I think we have to focus on what is ahead of us. There's no time and there's no need to look behind who could be here and who did not. A lot of other players are also injured, and I hope that everybody will be ready, at least, for the World Cup.
On facing Austria
I think we have a good squad to beat Austria. I think in football anything is possible. This is football. To be honest, everyone can beat everyone. I'm very, very sure. We saw it at the last World Cup that there's no team to be underrated. Surely, Germany is a high-profile team, but to be honest I'm not thinking about Germany now. So, for us, it's the full focus on Austria. We want to win every match we play. This is for sure. And now the full focus is on Austria. We saw what they do. We analysed them well. I'm very, very hopeful that the players will do it at the end. It's about them. The focus on Austria and we know what to do.
On having a perfect execution plan
We now have to execute the plan perfectly. Like I said, it will be an intense game. This is what we're looking forward to. They have a good team, but we will face them squarely. They have a good coach, a man who understands the game s well so we can take things lightly. We just have to get the job done here and after the match, we will think about Germany.
On rating of Austria
They are good, they play well. They have some experienced players in the side. Tactically sound because of the man who is coaching them. David Alaba is very experienced. Their midfield is also very strong, and they have a strong frontline but like I said we have the materials to match them.
On significance of the friendlies
It’s always important to play high profile matches before the World Cup. We have two European teams in our Group, so it was impetrative that we get the right opposition as we build up to the World Cup. We face Croatia, a very impressive side in their last three international competitions as well as England who have a good squad, so we needed to prepare well, play some good matches and it is the reason why we are here. For Austria, they will face Algeria in the Group phase, and they needed it as well. Algeria may not be the same as Ghana, but they come in with physicality and so I am sure they will some good lessons from us as well.
GFA COMMUNICATIONS