Thanks to an energetic performance in the second half, FC Augsburg fought their way to a 1-1 draw against Leipzig. Manager Stefan Reuter compliments the team and hopes for a positive end to the year.
Little to nothing in the first half suggested that FCA could get anything against Leipzig, who were playing strongly. “We didn’t get into the duels, didn’t act courageously and let ourselves be played too easily at times “, Reuter named the failings of the first 45 minutes and aptly stated: “The best thing was that it was only 0:1.”
Because Leipzig first failed to decide the game early on and then let up, Augsburg had the chance to make a comeback. And they made the most of it with a much more determined, gripping performance after the break. From Reuter’s point of view, the jokers played an important role in this improvement, and not only because substitute Daniel Caligiuri sank the penalty to make it 1-1 shortly before the end. With Arne Maier, more footballing quality came into the game, with Mads Pedersen more aggressiveness, Sergio Cordova headed powerfully against the crossbar. “They brought freshness and played bravely on it,” Reuter found.
The manager had general praise for the resilience of the entire team. “The way we deal with setbacks, with suspended players, with absences, the way we absorb that as a team is remarkable,” said Reuter. “You have to give the team a big compliment on how they have dealt with all the difficulties in the last few weeks.” Despite personnel problems, he said FCA had managed to “appear much more compact and cohesive, to play with the necessary intensity”.
We will need a top performance.
With exceptions like the first half against Leipzig or earlier in the home match against Bochum (2:3), a basic upward trend is discernible after a weak start to the season, even if FCA are still in the relegation place. However, Augsburg need another success on Saturday for a conciliatory end to the first half of the season. “A three-point win in Fürth would do us a lot of good in terms of the standings,” Reuter knows and warns against underestimating the bottom-placed team: “It won’t be an easy game, they are doing quite well but don’t have the results. We will need a top performance.” So we will have to be gripping and run strong – right from the start.
Captain Jeffrey Gouweleeuw returns to the starting eleven after serving his yellow ban, but Reuter has “not too much hope” for the other injured players (Zeqiri, Niederlechner, Finnbogason, Gruezo). Felix Uduokhai (COVID-19) continues to wait for the end of his quarantine. “I hope that he will be allowed out soon after a negative test,” said Reuter on Wednesday evening.