Schmidt: “Be ready to perform at the highest level possible”

FC Augsburg have begun their pre-season preparations for the 2019/20 Bundesliga season. The majority of the FCA squad are back in Augsburg and back on the training pitch. Martin Schmidt is preparing the Fuggerstädter for their ninth consecutive season in the top flight. It will also be the Swiss head coach’s first full season in charge of the team. Schmidt took over as head coach of FC Augsburg in April and led the team to Bundesliga survival. However, the Swiss coach has also suffered the first low blow of his Augsburg tenure as his side fell to a heavy away defeat in Wolfsburg to end the season. Nevertheless, Schmidt was able to take some positives out of that last performance into preparations for the new campaign. “Of course we had process that defeat initially. However, we started this reappraisal with this critical reflection before turning out attentions to pre-season. As a result, we were able to put our exact targets into place and find out what we need to change.” Changes in personnel at FCA There have already been a series of careful changes in the FCA squad this summer. Six new signings have been made ahead of the new season. “We have lost some important players in several positions this summer. Consequently, we have been forced to rebuild. We have already found some replacements and have filled the gaps in our squad. Mads Pedersen, Florian Niederlechner, Noah Sarenren Bazee, Ruben Vargas, Iago and Carlos Gruezo are the six new arrivals in Augsburg.”We wanted to strengthen in defence and central midfield. We have signed a true fighter in central midfield in Carlos Gruezo. We have to fight back whenever we lose possession in central midfield. Most of all, we still need to strengthen in goal and in central defence.” The aims for the pre-season have been made clear by Martin Schmidt: “FC Augsburg’s rehabilitation facilities have been expanded in recent weeks. In the next seven weeks, we want to work on our weaknesses. All of the players should be ready to perform at the highest level possible for the first match of the season.”