Maaßen: “We have to be 100 percent concentrated”
First Team
07.09.2022, 14:12
With their away game against SV Werder Bremen on Friday 9th September (20:30 CEST), FC Augsburg are kicking off matchday 6 of the Bundesliga. Under the floodlights, the team want to put their bad run of results behind them and grab their second win of the season.
FCA head coach Enrico Maaßen is demanding a reaction from his team following their 2-0 defeat to Hertha BSC. “We have a duty to give back something back to the fans,” explained the 38-year-old, who wants to show cohesion, unity and conviction against Bremen. Maaßen clapped back at the accusation that his players aren’t giving it their all. “The team is up for it and throwing themselves fully into each training session, but now we have to turn that into results.”
There have also been positive words from Markus Krapf, who was appointed as the new president of the supervisory board on Tuesday. “He introduced himself to the dressing room yesterday and was well received by the team. We are happy that we now have a president who knows the club inside out,” said Maaßen of Krapf, who has already been managing director of FCA between 2002-2006.
Jensen and Iago fit again
In Bremen, expect an opponent on Friday evening who have been able to carry their euphoria from promotion into the new season. Ole Werner’s team have already accumulated eight points, five more than FCA. Last time out, Werder beat Bochum 2-0 with Niclas Füllkrug scored his fourth and fifth goals of the season. Maaßen knows “Bremen are a huge, traditional club. They have started well and are playing at home; there is a certain excitement there. But there is also an opportunity to get something there!”
This opportunity now has seized, with the away win over Leverkusen on matchday 2 serving as a model to follow. “We have to be 100 percent concentrated for the entire game,” according to Maaßen’s battle plan. The Augsburg head coach can again call on the services of Fredrik Jensen and Iago, who both missed the home game against Hertha through injury. The condition of Arne Maier is questionable. The midfielder had to be substituted last week after half time due to pain in his ankle.
