The Augsburg Panthers face weeks of waiting and fear. As was the case last year, the club does not know which league it will play in next year, despite the confirmed sporting relegation. This annoys head coach Christof Kreutzer.
The future of the Augsburg Panthers is once again uncertain. Like last year, the club was relegated in sporting terms. Based on their performance and points, the Swabians should play in the DEL2 next season, but that is not yet certain. Whether the Swabians will actually be relegated may only be decided in several weeks when the DEL2 play-off winner is determined.
If this ends up being Kassel or Krefeld, Augsburg will have to go down. This season, of the remaining teams, only Kassel and Krefeld have applied for a DEL license; only they can meet the economic requirements for promotion.
On and Relegation regulation “not thought through”
Augsburg coach Christof Kreutzer is annoyed by this uncertainty: After the defeat against direct competitor Düsseldorfer EG on Sunday 1:3 (1:2, 0:0, 0:1) Kreutzer complained: “Maybe at the end of the day the promotion and relegation hasn’t been thought through.” Due to the defeat, the Panthers are already last in the DEL before the last match day next Friday.
Augsburg was already at a major competitive disadvantage after its sporting relegation last season. The club was only able to put together a DEL squad much later. Potential newcomers had not known for weeks which league they would end up playing in. “I understand why these regulations should be set up this way, but whoever comes last has a really difficult time,” said Kreutzer.
Whistles against Main shareholder Sigl
But the former national defender isn’t thinking about giving up. “It’s a challenge and you have to face it. And if you don’t face it, you give up and I won’t give up,” said the 56-year-old. After the defeat against DEG, there was a loud whistle concert from the fans against him and the main shareholder Lothar Sigl. “I can understand the fans. I’m sorry for Augsburg,” said Kreutzer at MagentaSport.
Source: BR24Sport on the radio March 4, 2024 – 11:55 a.m
