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FC Augsburg is the team of the moment in the Bundesliga. Since Manuel Baum took over as coach, FCA has been one of the most successful teams in the league. The Bundesliga Update Podcast team discusses what makes FCA so strong right now. Manuel Baum’s stabilization of the defense is particularly impressive.
Under former coach Sandro Wagner, FC Augsburg was one of the weakest defensive teams in the league. FCA had conceded 27 goals, only 1.FC Heidenheim was equally weak in this statistic at the time. Then Manuel Baum came and he gradually stabilized the FCA.
Counter goals now the exception
Above all, he ensured that the Augsburg game was no longer as risky as it was under Sandro Wagner. During the time under the former coach, Augsburg conceded the most goals in the league after counterattacks. Since Baum took over, only one more thing has been added – a real top value. The basic number of goals conceded has also decreased rapidly. Under Manuel Baum, Augsburg has the second best defense in the league.
Lack of spectacle as a tree flaw?
These changes hardly come at the expense of the offense, at least in terms of revenue. The Augsburg team scored just as many goals under Manuel Baum as before under Sandro Wagner. But the style of play has changed significantly.
“Ribeiro’s goal against 1.FC Köln and Banks’ great preparatory work are a strong moment,” says podcast host Jens Walbrodt in the current episode of the Sportschau Bundesliga Update. “But otherwise it’s back to the old-school Augsburg football from earlier times.” Former coach Sandro Wagner tried spectacular offensive football with FC Augsburg at times – without really having any success.
“If it works, why did Augsburg want to change the way they play?” says podcast host Anne Hilt. “It’s better than having to go to the second division with hurray football.”
Tree from interim to permanent solution
Augsburg won five of the last six games under Manuel Baum and is the strongest team in the league behind FC Bayern. This means that Baum not only puts the FCA within reach of European competition, but also puts himself in a good starting position for a possible contract extension in the summer. “We’ll see in the summer which position is best for me. The only thing that’s important to me is that I can stay there,” said the Augsburg coach in the Sportschau interview. You can tell that he is enjoying the current phase.
Breathe a sigh of relief at Werder Bremen
There is also great relief at SV Werder Bremen – because Werder was able to win in the Bundesliga for the first time in thirteen games. The 2-0 win against Heidenheim therefore seemed like a real liberation – for the coach, team and fans. The Bundesliga Update team also discusses this game – and all other games on matchday 24 – in detail.
The Bundesliga update – every Thursday and Monday
The Bundesliga update is available in the ARD audio library, wherever podcasts are available and on the Sportschau football channel on YouTube. New episodes appear on Thursday afternoons and Monday mornings.
