The Bundesliga begins again on Saturday after a two-week break, with Augsburg facing 1. FC Köln away from home (15:30 CET). 

The FCA players had four days to put their feet up over Christmas, with training for their first game of 2021 beginning on Monday. “One or two would have probably wanted a bit more time off”, said Heiko Herrlich, continuing “but right now we should be grateful to be able to do our jobs”.

Even though the break this year has been a lot shorter than it usually is, everyone enjoyed their days off according to the FCA boss. Herrlich has Andre Hahn available again for the game in Köln, who missed a few games towards the end of 2020 after testing positive for Covid-19. Raphael Framberger and Alfred Finnbogason, who both missed the DFB-Pokal game against RB Leipzig (3-0 defeat), are still out injured. 

Herrlich wants to build on the Frankfurt game

FCA were pushed to their limits in the game against Leipzig, in the first 30 minutes especially. “We’ve discussed the mistakes but now we have to look forward, especially as the second half was better”, said Herrlich, adding “the first 30 minutes was really bad.”

In Cologne, Herrlich now wants to “pick up where we left off against Frankfurt”. FCA got nothing out of their final league game of 2020 (2-0 defeat), despite playing well for long periods. “We had one or two chances, but we didn’t get anything from them. That’s what we want to do better against Köln,” said Herrlich.

Herrlich: “We have to be wide awake”

Köln were on a solid run before Christmas, picking up eight points from their final five games of the year. “They’re heading in the right direction. We have to be wide awake if we lose the ball. They’re very good on the counter and they’re solid,” warned Herrlich.

The FCA coach is hoping for a winning start to the new year: “We’re going there and, as always, we want to get something. Köln are on a similar level to us – so it’s definitely possible”. 

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