FC Augsburg set a new negative record by failing to record a win in their eleventh away game in a row. Above all, goalkeeper Rafal Gikiewicz raged about the manner in the aftermath of the match.
“We wanted to be compact and aggressive,” said a dismayed Markus Weinzierl at the “DAZN” microphone after the clear 1:4 defeat against Mainz 05, a potential direct competitor in the fight against relegation.
However, the will to win did not work out at all on Friday evening, after half an hour it was already 0:3 from the point of view of the Fuggerstädter. “You can’t play a Bundesliga match like you did in the first half,” said the Augsburg coach. “I could have substituted every single one in the break. “
“That was just nothing today “
A similar tone was found by his goalkeeper Gikiewicz after the game. “You can’t play in the Bundesliga with such mental preparation, not even in the Kreisliga. We talk all week and yet the coach can change eleven times after the first half,” the 33-year-old made clear. He had no real share in any of the goals and even prevented the team from falling further behind before the break, but this only improved his mood after the game to a limited extent. “We were like a starter for Mainz. We didn’t play against Bayern Munich, but the opponent still does what he wants. That was simply nothing today. “
“I feel like we’re just too fed up and don’t feel like playing in the Bundesliga – we can’t do that. “
RAFAL GIKIEWICZ
But looking at the table, the performance was just not enough, not only on matchday 9. FCA have collected just one win and six points so far and could be promoted to a direct relegation place by Bielefeld at the weekend. “If we keep playing like this, we’ll be playing in the 2nd division from the summer onwards, that should be clear to everyone. I have the feeling we are just too fed up and don’t feel like playing football in the Bundesliga – we can’t do that. I’ll be 34 next week, I want to play a few more years in the Bundesliga and not in the 2nd division, but that’s not enough,” said Gikiewicz. Such a statement at such an early stage is quite remarkable, given that there are still 25 match days to go for the Fuggerstadters.
“We have far too little quality “
However, for Gikiewicz, the problems are probably not the form of the day: “It doesn’t matter what system we play, what the coach’s name is or who is playing. We have far too little quality,” said the Pole, who wants to have a “tough internal discussion” about the game.
But there is little time for that, because FCA have to play VfL Bochum in the cup this week before they have to make amends against Stuttgart at home in the league.