Was in 2020 at SC Freiburg
© Imago
In summer, Felix Bacher from WSG Tirol switched to the Portuguese first division club Estoril Praia. The 24 -year -old Austrian spoke to the transfer market about the special challenges in Portugal, his time in Germany and the great dreams of his career.
In his early days in Portugal, Bacher had to be patient, because only on the eleventh matchday did he make his debut. “If I was honest, I knew that it could take me to get used to the league, the training, the environment and adapt everything. I didn’t think that it would take so long in the end, ”says Bacher. Since then he has become an integral part of the starting eleven and completed all games over the full season.
Although many of his teammates speak English, the language was a big hurdle. “At first I used Duolingo to learn Portuguese, now I regularly go to language lessons. I would say that I can now understand a lot and also exchange ideas with my teammates. ”On the square, he had to get used to the sporting increase in training. “The intensity and frequency within the training sessions are extremely high. This led me to see where my weak points are, so I worked on it in detail, ”says the central defender.
Despite these problems, Bacher continued to focus. “I didn’t let myself be pulled down in the weeks in which I couldn’t get to go, but used the time to work professionally and individually. For me, football is pure passion and a great love. I went into the exchange with my trainers, I specifically completed additional strength training, extra runs or passport exercises to be there when I get the chance, ”said Bacher, the season called“ the most beautiful appreciation ”. As a result of his good performances, he was elected twice to the eleven of the match day.
In Freiburg, Bacher was denied the jump to the Bundesliga
Bacher was trained in the youth of Wacker Innsbruck, where he made his debut for the professionals at the age of 18. In the 2019/20 season, the ten -time Austrian champion had relegated to the second division and subsequently rely on many young players like Bacher. “Looking back, I look back on a cool time in Innsbruck. With Thomas Grumser I had a trainer who encouraged me sporty and human. For the most part, the team of boys that I had known for years existed. As a result, I never had the feeling that I am a soccer professional, but rather that I go with my friends at the weekend, ”recalls the 24-year-old.
With his achievements, he attracted interest from Germany and switched to the second representative of SC Freiburg in 2020 – in retrospect a disappointment. “Back then we spoke to several clubs from Germany, but at Freiburg I immediately had the feeling that it fits. There were very good conversations with those responsible and I was shown the perspective of becoming Bundesliga players. ”He never made the leap to the professionals, but he took his experience with him. “The training sessions that I was able to complete with the professionals were unique. The feedback, which I received from Christian Streich, also remains in a positive memory. ”
Bacher calls various reasons why the jump to the Bundesliga did not work. “On the one hand, Corona broke out a few months after my change, so many processes did not go as normal. On the other hand, I didn’t get to the second team as I imagined, ”says Bacher. He ran a total of 23 times for the second team of SC Freiburg.
Bacher makes a breakthrough in Tyrol: “See me as a mentality player”
After a year and a half in Breisgau, Bacher joined the WSG Tyrol in July 2021, where he had to deal with injuries in the early days. As a result, he commuted between starting eleven. In the following season he became a regular and one of the best central defenders in the league. “As a young player, you have to have your experiences to grow in a wide variety of areas, even in the mental area. I did not make major changes, but rather made it aware of it if I want to achieve something, I have to do more than others. I have to work hard and disciplined and set realistic goals, ”explains Bacher. “Today I also see myself as a mentality player who likes to take responsibility.”
After two strong seasons in Tyrol, the transfer -free move to Portugal followed. The greatest successes of Estoril Praia, which has belonged to the American investor David Blitzer since 2023, are a few years ago-in the 2013/14 and 2014/15 the Canarinhos competed in the Europa League. “I wanted to take the next step and I saw it for myself abroad. I wanted to grow on a sportier, like on a human level. It is no secret that the Portuguese league enjoys a higher priority in Europe than the Austrian Bundesliga. In the past, many players made the leap from Portugal into the top 5 leagues and I would like to take such a step at some point. ”Both Rapid and Austria Vienna were said to be interested in Bacher before moving to Portugal.
Bacher dreams of jumping in top 5 league and ÖFB selection
The Austrian raves about football in Portugal. “The quality of the offensive players is brutal here, every weekend you are challenged. The players are more unpredictable and dribbling, so it requires a faster response time. One wrong step and the opponent is over or he provokes a foul. ”He also praises the cohesion in the team. “We often go dinner together a week. After successful games, whether home or away game, our masseur builds up a small traditional grill, then Chouriço is grilled and cheese is served, ”says Bacher.
He particularly benefited from two people in the club – defense colleague Eliaquim Mangala (33) and head coach Ian Cathro (38). “Eliaquim is an incredibly nice and helpful person. One might think that someone with such a career is withdrawn and arrogant, he is the complete opposite. Of course, I look at how he reacts in certain situations and try to implement it accordingly. With regard to Cathro, it can be said that he works very detailed. You can tell that he worked as an assistant among big coaches. He goes into every single player and tries to do it better in every training session. I have grown enormously in the play tactical area. “
Sporty highlights were the games against SC Braga and Benfica SL for Bacher. “Of course it was something special against a world star like Ángel di María and to play in front of a large audience, but the game against Braga left a lasting impression for me. We fought ourselves back after a 0: 2 and played 2-2 at the end. I still remember the mood in the cabin and on the way back. “
Bacher’s big dream would be a nomination from Ralf Rangnick for the Austrian national team, but his focus is on the second half of the season. “But I really guess it, first of all I have to bring my achievements in the club to come into view. Therefore it is more of a future talk. Rather, I focus on the second half of the season with Estoril and will do everything we can to fix the relegation as quickly as possible. ”