Without four centre-backs and in the last minute, Augsburg score in Berlin. Coach Markus Weinzierl praised his team – especially unlucky Robert Gumny and debutant Frederik Winther.
Weinzierl’s brief was clear: “We want to win.” Nevertheless, the coach, whose team had beaten FC Bayern the previous week, also had the dark side of his team in mind ahead of the game in the capital. “Many teams have not been successful after beating Bayern. And unfortunately we have already proved that we can follow up good games with bad ones.”
The performance in Berlin was not bad. Especially considering that, in addition to the long-term injured Felix Uduokhai (thigh) and Tobias Strobl (cruciate ligament tear), Reece Oxford (thigh) and Jeff Gouweeleuw were also out at short notice. The captain left again the evening before the game to seek domestic isolation after a positive Corona case was reported in the family circle.
We were very surprised by the news surrounding Jeff.
“We went through many line-ups before the game because we were very surprised by the news about Jeff,” said Weinzierl, who opted for Gumny, the skilled right-back, and talent Winther. “Freddy is a young player we have been watching over the past few months and he has done very, very well. Which is not surprising because he also did very well in the Danish U21s,” the coach explained. “We knew it would be a good fit.” Only who would line up next to the 20-year-old was a matter of longer figuring out. “We went through a lot of thoughts and Gumny was the logical choice. “
Overall, the Pole offered a decent game. Until his hair-raising lapse shortly before the break, which almost put Berlin in the lead and FCA out of the rewards of a committed performance. Nevertheless, and certainly with the feeling of having equalised just before the break, Weinzierl’s understanding, mildness and pride prevailed. It was true that “a glaring mistake was made. But that’s what happens when you have to replace four centre-backs. Robert and Freddy played together for the first time in this combination. And both of them deserve special praise. “
