Kevin Wimmer returns to hometown Linz for Slovan Bratislava Champions League tie

ŠK Slovan Bratislava defender Kevin Wimmer described his return to Linz for the Champions League match against LASK as evoking specific feelings. The Austrian defender, who was born near Linz, admitted that arriving as an opponent creates a unique emotional context for him ahead of the fourth-round fixture at Raiffeisen Arena.

Wimmer developed through the LASK youth academy starting from the U10 level and noted that he scored four goals for the club, which remains the highest tally of his professional career. He emphasized his gratitude toward LASK for launching his career and confirmed he still follows their matches regularly.

Slovan Bratislava must compete without traveling supporters after UEFA upheld a ban stemming from fan conflicts during a prior away match against AS Roma. Wimmer acknowledged the disadvantage of missing fan support in what he expects to be a hostile atmosphere but pledged maximum effort for those watching from home.

The match also reunites Wimmer with LASK manager Dietmar Kühbauer, who previously coached him at Rapid Vienna. Wimmer praised Kühbauer’s success since taking over LASK and expressed respect for the team's development on Europe's top stage.

Assessing the opposition, Wimmer characterized LASK as having immense offensive power and high-quality individuals regardless of their domestic league standing. He cited this quality as a primary reason why Slovan faces an extremely difficult challenge in Linz.