FC Augsburg impresses in 2023 with home strength and a new squad depth. Coach Maassen praises the spirit of his team after the “absolute willpower” against Hoffenheim.
Augsburg (dpa / lby) – Enrico Maaßen did not want to speak of a milestone. “That would be too high,” said the 38-year-old FC Augsburg coach. But the last-minute 1-0 win in the extremely tough game against TSG 1899 Hoffenheim, forced by his team after a lot of resistance, could have been just that – a milestone for Augsburg on the goal of a 13th year in the Bundesliga.
On Friday evening, however, Maaßen sang a hymn to his team, which was not deterred by two goals disallowed according to video evidence and forced the next home win in a floodlit game with passion and a little bit of luck. “The goal at the end was definitely an absolute willpower, felt with six players on the line who all wanted to push the ball over. That also shows the spirit of my team,” said Maassen. The third FCA goal that evening finally counted – the stadium was boiling.
The player who pushed the ball over the line after a sharp corner kick from Arne Engels and captain Jeffrey Gouweleeuw’s extra time was Fredrik Jensen. The Dane stabbed as a joker. “It was my job to be at the second post,” said Jensen, who summarized the Augsburg happy ending in telegram style. “Won 1-0, scored a goal, three points, Friday night, all good.” The WWK Arena is suddenly a fortress.
“Three times 1-0 at home – Chapeau!” Said manager Stefan Reuter about the victories against Gladbach, Leverkusen and now Hoffenheim. Reuter and Maaßen emphasized in unison: “It was sometimes important to win against someone directly in the table.” The lead over Hoffenheim, who were caught in the relegation pull, has increased to five points.
A key to the positive development in 2023 was FCA’s intensive winter shopping. Engels, Renato Veiga and Kelvin Yeboah were three of the seven newcomers in the starting line-up against Hoffenheim. Dion Beljo came on. “We brought in hungry players and types of players that we didn’t have in the squad,” said Maassen. The newcomers bring freshness and speed to the squad, and are also very different types of players, said manager Reuter. Thanks to the new players, the coach has “more opportunities to vary and add more”.
Topping up was also an immediate issue on Friday evening. “We also have to score points away from home,” warned goalkeeper Rafal Gikiewicz. “We still need at least 12 or 13 points,” is his calculation for remaining in the class. Augsburg have 24 points after 21 match days. Maassen put it this way: “Now we can’t put our feet up.”
