Stevens demands response

Posted Thursday, October 22, 2009 by PA

Red Bull Salzburg boss Huub Stevens has challenged his side to produce a reaction to the disappointing league defeat by Austria Vienna when they face Levski Sofia in the Europa League.

Salzburg take on the Bulgarians in European action on home turf on Thursday smarting from Saturday's 1-0 loss at the hands of their domestic rivals.

Stevens' side are now joint top of the Bundesliga with Austria but edge their rivals on goal difference. The coach admits their preparations for tomorrow's match have been dominated by the post-mortem following Saturday's loss.

"We have analysed the game at Austria in depth and talked about the mistakes we made there," the former PSV Eindhoven boss said on uefa.com.

"I hope the players will bear that in mind on Thursday and react accordingly.

"Levski haven't been playing in Europe for many years for no reason, they are a technically gifted team."

Salzburg's cause may be undermined by the absence of star striker Marc Janko, however.

Janko, last season's top scorer in the Austrian league by some distance, is a major doubt for the clash having suffered a thigh injury at the weekend.

Stevens could also be without midfielder Nikola Pokrivac, who is suffering with a bout of flu, although full-back Rabiu Afolabi is back in the frame.

While Stevens licks his wounds following the domestic defeat, Levski have problems of their own.

Sporting director Georgi Ivanov has taken over as caretaker boss following the resignation of Serbian Ratko Dostanic after a poor start to the season.

Levski are labouring at home, lying ninth in the table with only 10 points from eight games and the weekend defeat by Beroe Stara Zagora proved the final nail in Dostanic's coffin.

With two defeats from their games so far and in the `group of death' with Lazio and Villarreal as well as Salzburg, the Bulgarians' Europa League campaign looks certain to end sooner rather than later.

Their hosts, however, are flying high at the top of Group G with wins over their Italian and Spanish rivals.