FC Augsburg is under pressure in the home match against Stuttgart. The team’s strong reaction to the 0:2 deficit in the cup match at VfL Bochum gives coach Markus Weinzierl confidence. Whether Florian Niederlechner is already an option will be decided at short notice.
The hoped-for sense of achievement came to nothing, a 4:5 penalty shoot-out meant cup elimination for FCA in Bochum. However, the way in which Augsburg fought their way back into the game after an interim 0:2 was positive for Weinzierl. “We came back strongly. That’s the way I want the team to fight for every inch and act as a unit,” said the FCA coach. The team had “taken the handbrake off, even in their heads” when they had nothing left to lose, then constantly acted and played aggressively.
That’s exactly what Weinzierl wants for Sunday: “That’s the basic requirement, that the players get everything out of themselves and offer everything to the spectators. That has not been the case in phases of this season.” That is why Weinzierl had recently sharpened the tone after the 1:4 debacle in Mainz and called the players to account. The 46-year-old was satisfied with the initial reaction. Now it’s a question of how sustainable this effect is.
Weinzierl beckons an anniversary
With just six points from nine games, FCA are under pressure. “We have put ourselves in a situation that we have to catch up,” Weinzierl knows. With a win, Augsburg could move to within one point of VfB. Weinzierl also has a jubilee beckoning on Sunday against his former club: in his 149th game with FCA, he is on the verge of his 50th win (34 draws, 65 defeats).
Sarenren Bazee is probably out
After the 120-minute Pokalfight in Bochum, two Augsburg players are injured: Noah Sarenren Bazee pulled an external ligament strain in his knee during a duel and is probably out. Iago has problems with his hand and is questionable. Mads Pedersen could start for the Brazilian, who slept through the first goal conceded on Wednesday. The Dane was absent in the cup due to muscular problems.
Attacker Florian Niederlechner is back in training after his hernia, as are Niklas Dorsch and Fredrik Jensen, who have been ill recently. “They are back taking their first steps, but they were out for a long time,” said Weinzierl. Whether Niederlechner is already an option again for Sunday, the FCA coach wants to decide at short notice after “gut feeling” and a conversation with the striker. “It’s always the question: when do you bring the player? How important is the game?” The latter can be answered with a view to Sunday and FCA’s situation: damn important.