On Thursday, Markus Weinzierl will ask the FC Augsburg professionals to take to the pitch together again after the short winter break. The coach believes the squad is ready for the second half of the season thanks to four returnees, but would not turn down external reinforcements.
On Wednesday, FCA started their preparation with PCR tests. Whether these will reveal Corona infections after the holidays and players will have to go into isolation will be seen on Thursday. The first team training session is scheduled for 10.30am. “All the players have been given individual plans and have been doing runs. I am sure we have not lost any fitness. “
We are missing such a flexible player a bit, that would make us better across the board.
Some convalescents have already been working on their comebacks at the training ground since the beginning of the week. The prospect of four returnees gives Weinzierl confidence ahead of the start of the second half of the season. Alfred Finnbogason, Florian Niederlechner, Felix Uduokhai and Carlos Gruezo should still be put under individual strain in the first few days, but will soon be fully fit for action. “I am hopeful that they will all be able to train with the team again from Monday at the latest,” said Weinzierl. Then the targeted preparation for the start in Hoffenheim on 8 January should begin.
“If there is one player who makes us better… “
If the returnees remain fit, FCA will be able to fill the gaps that gaped in the first half of the season, especially in central defence and in attack, from their own ranks. Weinzierl therefore sees no increased need for winter additions for the time being, but does not rule them out: “I am concentrating on those who are there. If there is a player who makes us better, of course I won’t say no.” But that would be “difficult” given the circumstances.
There is a gap due to the absence of Tobias Strobl (cruciate ligament rupture), who will be missing until the end of the season. Already in the summer, Augsburg had been looking for a player who can play on the six as well as in the centre of defence. At the time, FCA tried to sign Hoffenheim’s Kevin Vogt, but ultimately had no chance.
“We are missing such a flexible player, that would make us better across the board,” Weinzierl thinks. With Niklas Dorsch, Arne Maier, Jan Moravek and Gruezo, however, he believes the defensive midfield is “well-staffed”. Especially because the two U-21 European champions signed in the summer got better and better on track in the course of the first half of the season: “Niklas and Arne have recently played their way into the game and fulfilled what we expected. The aim is to build on these performances in the new year.
