Pedersen: “If we play with courage, then we’ll have a chance”

Following the game against SC Freiburg last weekend, FC Augsburg are away from home once again, on Saturday October 2nd at Borussia Dortmund. Whilst some players are doubtful to make appearances in the game, head coach Markus Weinzierl will seek a reaction from his squad following the 3-0 defeat on the last matchday.

One thing is clear for Weinzierl: “We cannot allow ourselves to deliver a performance like the one we did against Freiburg,” emphasized the FCA head coach. “We’re not yet at a point where we’re in danger, but we can do a lot better, and we need to improve.”

The first opportunity to improve comes on Saturday, when FCA travel to Dortmund. “We have to right the wrongs of our game in Freiburg, both in terms of the result and the way we played,” Weinzierl said, urging a reaction from his team. “Yes, we’re underdogs against Dortmund, but we still want to put a good performance in and show ourselves well.”

Morávek returns to training

In terms of the squad, there are still a few questions to be answered. Whilst the long-term absentees of Alfred Finnbogason and Felix Uduokhai will remain unavailable, Jan Morávek has returned to training following his muscle injury. It remains to be seen if the Czech will be able to join the squad this weekend, however. The other doubts for the game are André Hahn (illness) and Florian Niederlechner (adductor problem). Head coach Weinzierl will wait until the week’s final training session before making a decision on Iago (shoulder), and if he decides the Brazilian will not be able to play, Mads Pederson will most likely take his place. The 25-year-old Danish defender made his first start of the season last time out against Freiburg, with Weinzierl describing him as “one of the better players” in the game.

Weinzierl: “We need to be ready to fight”

Pedersen is pumped up for the game against BVB: “We know Dortmund are a good team, but in football you’ve always got a chance,” he emphasized. “If we put a good performance in and play with courage then we’ll have a chance. In any case, we’re going to give it our all and then we’ll see what happens.”

Dortmund’s star striker Erling Haaland, scorer of seven Bundesliga goals already, was a doubt for their game in Midweek. “Even without him, they have an unbelievable amount of quality in players like Marco Reus and Donyell Malen,” said FCA’s head coach, urging his team to play with more passion than they did last time out. “We need to be courageous, get stuck into all our duels – and we need to be ready to fight.”

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