“I’ll be happy when they’re back somewhat fit.”

It was a collective breather in black and white after Sturm’s deserved 2-1 win in Hartberg. “Big compliments to our team, who really pushed themselves to the limit,” says Sturm coach Christian Ilzer. Once again. “They drag themselves through the cabin, Mika (Biereth, note) has chills and is getting sick, many others are walking on their gums,” reports Ilzer. “The fact that we still leave the pitch with three points and as league leaders is a strong sign from our team.” Above all, it was about the “physical component and body language” that impressed Ilzer. “We simply don’t allow our minds to become tired.”

Sturm has played seven games since the last international break. The double winner is still there in the cup, the only thing they didn’t win in the league was against Rapid. “And we did well in the Champions League, but unfortunately we didn’t score any points,” says Ilzer. Full-back Jusuf Gazibegovic already missed the game against Hartberger and the 24-year-old has been suffering from muscular problems for weeks. The decision was made against Hartberg to nominate the Bosnian to the squad. “In these cycles you have to win the games with teams that are fresher and prepare for you all week.” “That’s why we have a larger squad and better squad quality,” says Ilzer.

And theoretically, the international break could now serve to ease the situation – if it weren’t for the large number of players that Graz have to release.

The Styrian doesn’t like the fact that there are three league breaks for international matches in the fall. “For a club coach with this program, three international breaks in this short phase are really torture.” Sturm currently only has two senior national team players, Otar Kiteishvili (Georgia) and Gazibegovic (Bosnia). The U21 national players are regular players across the board and have intensive games ahead of them again. “It’s not a break for the players, the strain is enormous.” I know the team bosses are very eager for the players to finally come.” Max Johnston can recover, the Scottish U21 national team is not playing. Amady Camara is not traveling to the Mali U21 team because he has recovered from a long-term infection. Unlike last time, Ilzer doesn’t give his team a whole week off. This week there will be training on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, and from Monday onwards it will be time to prepare for Austria Klagenfurt.

And Ilzer is always impressed by how few players on his team are injured. “I always have to compliment the medical team and the athletic trainers.” With Jon Gorenc Stankovic and Gregory Wüthrich, only two players are out with duel injuries. This is not a given. Ilzer used prominent examples: Real Madrid, for example, where Rodrygo, Eder Militao and Lucas Vázquez had to go out injured in the 4-0 win against Osasuna. Ten players were injured at Dortmund. “You can see through the squads of the top teams how many players are completely exhausted,” says Ilzer, and sees the European Championship in the summer and the three international breaks in the fall as part of the reason. “As a club coach, I’m always happy when they’re back somewhat fit,” says Ilzer.