FC Augsburg drop two points at the end of the year against bottom side Fürth. Markus Weinzierl misses the final consistency in the offensive – and is counting on things being better in the new year with two returnees.
Markus Weinzierl once again exhausted all the options that the squad offered in the offensive. He brought on the invigorating Ruben Vargas at half-time, a new attacking duo in Michael Gregoritsch and Sergio Cordova after the hour mark and the speedy Noah Sarenren Bazee for the final phase. However, FC Augsburg failed to score a goal on this dreary afternoon in Fürth.
“On the whole, it was too little because we were not cold-blooded and consistent enough up front. That’s why we’re not happy,” Weinzierl summed up after a disappointing 0-0 draw against the bottom team and referred to two sorely missed goal-scoring specialists: “With Alfred Finnbogason and Florian Niederlechner, we were missing two strikers that we would have needed. We’ve noticed that all season, and we’re fighting back against it. “
Augsburg relies on returnees
Durable patient Finnbogason only played three games in the first half of the season (one goal), Niederlechner made eleven appearances (three goals), but was never really fit. Weinzierl is counting on both potential goal scorers being fit for action again in the second half of the season: “I assume that Alfred and Flo will be available again in January.”
The FCA coach therefore does not see an acute need to upgrade in attack. Manager Stefan Reuter argues similarly: “It looks like they will be back in January. Then the coach will have even more options.” Of course, Reuter will be watching the market during the upcoming winter transfer period. But first and foremost, he is banking on the returnees, which include Carlos Gruezo and Felix Uduokhai. “I’m happy when we have all the men on board. Then you’ll have competitive situations, then you’ll build each other up and push each other. That will certainly do us good,” Reuter is convinced.
