FC Augsburg are relying on their home strength in the bottom of the table and want to take the decisive step towards staying in the relegation zone against Hertha BSC. Coach Markus Weinzierl kept the condition of two of his players a secret.
Three, six or nine points will be Augsburg’s lead over the current 17th-placed team from the capital on Saturday evening. So everything is on the cards, from relegation worries to realistic planning security for another year in the Bundesliga. Nevertheless, Weinzierl does not want to attach maximum importance to the basement duel on Saturday. “It is not an endgame. We still have four games after this. It’s a very important game in which we can take a giant step,” the 47-year-old stressed at Thursday’s press conference.
The trend is clearly in favour of Augsburg. While Hertha lost seven of their last eight Bundesliga games, FCA picked up six of a possible nine points in the English week. Even the performance in the only defeat, the 0:1 in Munich last Saturday, was positive. “What matters is what we bring to the pitch. It has always been our approach at home to believe in and rely on our home strength. Like against Mainz, when we put up a great fight, and like against Wolfsburg, when we also looked good for long stretches of the game,” Weinzierl looked back on the past two victories. FCA have celebrated six home victories this season – the last time they had more was in 2014/15, when they won as many as nine times at home.
“It’s only about 110 per cent commitment, will and passion “
With three games left to play in the WWK Arena, the internal record could still be set – which would, of course, be tantamount to staying in the league. For Weinzierl, despite the good phase, this is “not a foregone conclusion”. “It’s all about 110 per cent commitment, will and passion. That’s how we have to function as a team and work against an opponent who has a lot of individual quality,” explained the coach, who warned against Berlin’s switching movements and strength after standards despite their slump.
After overcoming a Corona infection, Mads Pedersen will return to the squad on Saturday. It remains to be seen whether Felix Uduokhai will also be back. After the defensive player had to take a break recently with muscular problems in his thigh and missed three games, he was able to rejoin team training in parts this week.
Daniel Caligiuri and Florian Niederlechner, on the other hand, are causing Weinzierl “a bit of concern”. The coach did not provide any information on how and why. When asked specifically what was wrong with both of them and whether they were in danger of being out for a longer period of time, Weinzierl answered meaninglessly: “We will clarify it. Then we’ll have to see when and if they’ll be available.”
Niederlechner was already absent, contrary to the original announcement, at an extra-sporting event on Wednesday, when some players and Weinzierl took up a spade and planted the first trees for the FCA forest. In cooperation with the city of Augsburg, 20,000 trees are to be planted there over the next four years as part of the club’s sustainability strategy.
