FC Zurich has to start again from scratch – 0:4 against FC Thun

It seemed like sheer mockery when, in the final minutes, the Zurich South Stand unwaveringly continued their chant about their FC Zurich, whom they "want to see play." Actually, they had been wanting it to stop for some time. But it continued.

The scoreboard at Letzigrund read 0-3, and the match against the newly promoted team had long been decided. As an added bonus, Valmir Matoshi scored FC Thun's fourth goal in stoppage time. After the final whistle, the FCZ players were sent to the dressing room to a chorus of raucous whistles. A shrill chorus of roars rarely heard.

Rarely has FC Zurich stumbled across the pitch as disoriented and clueless as it did on this late summer evening in front of 13,600 spectators. The defeat was not a single goal too heavy against a team that disciplinedly adhered to its counter-attacking style. With maximum points , newly promoted Thun sits atop the table after four matches . "The table and the numbers don't interest me," said a delighted Thun coach Mauro Lustrinelli, "they're just snapshots."

The "snapshot" aspect also applies to FC Zurich. The season is still young. But unlike Lustrinelli, the Zurich players were also interested in the details of the snapshot. FC Zurich coach Mitchell van der Gaag laconically pointed out the nine goals conceded compared to only five scored. "We're where we belong right now," said the Dutchman.

The 54-year-old spoke of bitter disappointment and the false belief that he could now take a step forward after the poor performance in the cup against FC Thun. His team played too carelessly, too slowly, and too inaccurately after a decent opening ten minutes. Van der Gaag couldn't hide the fact that his analysis was somewhat bewildered. After all, he knows full well that FC Zurich doesn't want to be where this snapshot shows them.

"Participation in European group matches" is Ancillo Canepa's goal, to be achieved in a year. The FCZ president once again set it out for this season, underscoring it with a hearty "Basta!" "We can only have one goal – a title!" FCZ player Lindrit Kamberi had trumpeted in an interview with "Blick" on Saturday. Kamberi was substituted at halftime after the defender stopped working before Thun's second goal. It's no secret that words and actions are two different things at FCZ.

FC Zurich goalkeeper Yanick Brecher once again demonstrated the gap between self-perception and reality. The captain denounced the team's "catastrophic defense," speaking as if, as goalkeeper, he had nothing to do with the defensive behavior of his teammates. Brecher hesitated on the first goal, but Rastoder's shot was saveable. When the score was 2-0, he seemed as sluggish as Kamberi, Gomez, and Segura defended against Thun's Meichtry. The goalkeeper was insecure in his build-up play.

"We have to question ourselves," said Steven Zuber. The FC Zurich striker had worn himself down in Thun's defensive lines. Van der Gaag had selected him as a center forward, even though he can demonstrate his strengths as a difference-maker behind the striker or from the flanks. "We played that way in Lausanne, too," van der Gaag answered the question.

Two weeks ago, FC Zurich achieved their only win of the season so far, defeating the Vaudois team, who were tired from their European Cup campaign. Van der Gaag aimed to build on their 2-1 performance in Lausanne on Saturday, but his attempt failed miserably. The performance against Thun seemed like a clean slate, and van der Gaag will have to start from scratch.

The day before the match, the FC Zurich coach spoke in detail about the challenge of constantly building a functioning team with newly signed players. "I have to deal with it, no problem," said van der Gaag, "but it complicates the job, finding a style of play while simultaneously having to deliver points." As in previous transfer periods , sporting director Milos Malenovic has once again shaken up the squad considerably.

A total of seven new FC Zurich players were on the pitch against Thun. It's only natural that they need time to get used to the club, the city, and the league. This also applies to the new coach, who most recently worked in England and Portugal. "I'm glad when the transfer window closes," said van der Gaag. The period after the national team break starting in mid-September is "like a second start to the season."

Maybe things will go like last season, only in reverse. A year ago, FCZ were top of the table after four matches before their decline into the relegation round accelerated with the wild coach Ricardo Moniz, the swashbuckling, the numerous changes in the winter, and the inexperienced signing of Benjamin Mendy . FCZ seems unable to behave differently this year, like a capricious diva. Jubilant or depressed. Depressed like after the 4-0 defeat to Thun. Van der Gaag, too, will have to learn to deal with it.