Wagner: “Fully focused and lots of excitement”
FCA away to Köln
First Team
16.10.2025, 15:35
Following the international break, FC Augsburg travel to 1. FC Köln on matchday 7 (Saturday, 18th October, 15:30 CEST). After their 3-1 home win over VfL Wolfsburg, head coach Sandro Wagner is confident ahead of his team’s next challenge.
“Alongside a healthy bit of tension, I’m also feeling a lot of excitement,” said Wagner ahead of the clash at the RheinEnergieStadion. The focus, he explained, is entirely on reproducing their own performance levels: “For me, it’s all about fully focusing on how we can perform well as a group and assert ourselves in Köln.”
Looking at the upcoming opponents, Wagner expects a tricky game: “1. FC Köln do an outstanding job in many areas. We need to be ready for that.” The FCA players have displayed maximum concentration in training this week, with the Fuggerstädter aiming to build on the stability and efficiency shown before the break.
During the break, the team played a friendly against SSV Ulm 1846, giving valuable minutes primarily to the youngsters while many first-team regulars were away on international duty. “For young players, it’s important in my view to keep things calm around them and give them time,” said Wagner. “For a coach, guiding young talents is one of the best parts of the job.”
Gouweleeuw back in training
Elvis Rexhbecaj returned from international duty with a slight knock, while Samuel Essende was the last to rejoin the squad on Thursday afternoon. Captain Jeffrey Gouweleeuw, meanwhile, has resumed team training after his injury and has already been able to take part in several sessions this week.
Over 2,300 FCA fans will support their side in Cologne at the weekend.
