There is not much to suggest that FC Augsburg will experience a more relaxed season than the last, in which relegation was in jeopardy for a long time. A new coach should finally implement a clear game philosophy for the team.
No vision, no progress in the game, no euphoria, plus a resigned president and an offended coach who announced his departure without prior notice: The picture that FC Augsburg gave at the end of the past season was that of relegation. The Swabians had just held the class for the eleventh time in a row.
Two months later, all that should be forgotten. Once again there is a new beginning in Augsburg, and that with a coach who has only worked in the 3rd division and for whom the Bundesliga is new territory.
That’s how last season went
After 34 matchdays, FC Augsburg had 38 points. With a 2-0 away win at VfL Bochum, the team almost made it to stay up in the league four games before the end. Goal achieved, one could have said. All good in Augsburg. But far from it.
Once again, what the club bosses have been aiming for for years, namely to implement a clear handwriting and game philosophy for the team, was not achieved. What Martin Schmidt and Heiko Herrlich had failed to do was not achieved by Markus Weinzierl in his second term at FCA.
After a difficult start to the season with two heavy home defeats, the first win only came on the 5th matchday (1-0 against Borussia Mönchengladbach). After that it took until the 10th matchday before the second win could be achieved with the 4:1 against VfB Stuttgart. In the DFB Cup, the team had already been eliminated by a 4:5 penalty shootout in Bochum.
As the season progressed, FCA fluctuated between 14th and 16th place. The relegation specter was a regular at the WWK Arena. A small intermediate spurt in the spring, when collecting ten points from five games, gave the team some breathing space. With the victory in Bochum on the 31st match day, the bad relegation spirits were then driven away.
Despite the sporting rescue, there were some irritations at the end of the season: President Klaus Hofmann, who has been in office since 2014, resigned shortly before the last matchday – officially for health reasons and because of the double burden on FCA and his company. After the final 2:1 over SpVgg Greuther Fürth, coach Markus Weinzierl also announced his retirement. Reason: The club in the person of Stefan Reuter had repeatedly postponed his contract extension. Weinzierl felt he was being held back and took his hat.
Who is coming, who is going
Unlike many other clubs, FC Augsburg has been reluctant to sign newcomers this summer. Despite the unsatisfactory past season, those responsible are primarily building on the existing squad, which has been carefully expanded.
Two deserving players who wore the FCA jersey for a long time are no longer part of it: Jan Moravek and Alfred Finnbogasson are allowed to look for a new club. Both have been very injury-prone in recent years and have not played regularly.
It was different with Michael Gregoritsch. The Austrian national player was Augsburg’s top scorer last season with nine goals and should be much more difficult to replace. Gregoritsch is also the only regular player who has left the club.
The attacking midfielder, who once aroused the anger of those responsible in Augsburg because he wanted to leave FCA, is drawn to SC Freiburg. In exchange, Ermedin Demirovic came from Breisgau to Lech. The Bosnian and the late signer Midfielder Elvis Rexhbecaj (VfL Wolfsburg/VfL Bochum) are the most notable newcomers. Midfielder Arne Maier, previously on loan from Hertha BSC, has been signed on. The next step is expected from record purchase Ricardo Pepi (who came from FC Dallas in January for 16 million euros), who has not yet been able to meet expectations.
And otherwise? Some loan players are back in Augsburg, such as Maurice Malone, who scored in the cup game at BW Lohne (4-0). Recently there have been reports that the Augsburgers could still improve and strengthen themselves in two or three positions. Striker Toni Martinez from FC Porto is said to be a candidate for a loan deal.
Committed: The new FCA coach Enrico Maassen
The coach: Enrico Maassen
Enrico Maassen counts himself among the quieter representatives of his professionwho tries to solve things objectively: “There are definitely moments when you get louder. That has to be the case, but basically I’m more of an objective guy.”
The 38-year-old, who comes from Wismar and has never trained at a higher level, is one who drew attention to himself last season in the 3rd division when he played a strong season with promoted Borussia Dortmund II and this on a a respectable ninth place in the table. He definitely brings a breath of fresh air to Augsburg.
At FCA, they observed his development closely and, after a brief flirtation with Peter Zeidler (FC St. Gallen), who was born in Swabia, sent Maaßen to Augsburg: Managing Director Stefan Reuter deliberately speaks of his “ideal coach”: “That we Enrico Maaßen with a three-year contract equipped is a clear sign of how convinced we are of him and that we are of course striving for continuity.”
Developing your “own game identity” again, being active when in possession, “is very important and gives the players a good feeling,” said the 1990 world champion with a view to Maassen, “the clear game philosophy is good for us.” Maassen’s speeches and how he consistently demands his ideas made a very good impression. The players are super on board: “We made this decision with the necessary meticulousness, deliberately taking the time after the season to discuss the profile of a new coach and what is expected of him. We are very happy with the decision for Enrico.”
expectations for the season
FCA remain realistic in the twelfth Bundesliga season. Stefan Reuter would like a new, clear game philosophy with more ball possession, Coach Enrico Maaßen wants to play attacking football that gets the fans involved and puts a smile on their faces.
It is hoped that talent will continue to develop, especially Ricardo Pepi. Maaßen has already proven that he can do that, players like Steffen Tigges (1. FC Köln), Ansgar Knauff (Eintracht Frankfurt) and Tobias Raschl (SpVgg Greuther Fürth) had Maaßen and his team under their wing and formed them into sought-after Bundesliga professionals.
Above all, of course, there is the expectation of holding the class again in the twelfth year. And that’s going to be hard enough. A plus could be that the team is well-rehearsed and that automatisms take effect earlier than at other clubs. On the other hand, the squad, which was hardly strengthened, played against relegation for a long time last season. There was (so far) no real blood refreshment.
What also clouds the anticipation are injuries. Two key players, Ruben Vargas and Reece Oxford, missed almost all of the pre-season in the dress rehearsal against Stade Rennes (2:3) Niklas Dorsch suffered a broken metatarsal. The U-21 European champions, who should play a central role in Maassen’s system, are out for a long time.
It is not a bold prognosis that FCA can only go about staying in the league in the new season. Bin a 4-0 win at Oberliga club Blau-Weiss Lohne the Swabians did not show a brilliant performance and were not very convincing for a long time.
Peace must return to the club. With his offensive orientation, Enrico Maassen can be expected to make progress, at least in sporting terms. If the experiment with the inexperienced coach doesn’t work out, the signs are different.
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Source: BR24 08/02/2022 – 6:30 p.m
