Herrlich: "We want to climb up a couple more places"
First Team
25.06.2020, 15:52
Having secured Bundesliga survival last weekend, now FCA take on RB Leipzig on Saturday in their final game of the season (27th June 15:30 CEST). While there’s no pressure on Augsburg anymore, FCA head coach Heiko Herrlich wants to climb a couple places in the table.
After some nerve-wracking weeks and months in the relegation battle, FCA can go into their last game of the season against Leipzig fairly relaxed. “We’ve not got any more negative pressure weighing us down, and we’re looking forward to the end of the season,” explained coach Heiko Herrlich ahead of the game against third-placed Leipzig. “We’ve worked hard to be able to play against teams like Leipzig again next season.”
RB Leipzig have already secured Champions League qualification, sitting three points and 27 goals ahead of Bayer Leverkusen, but this is not the only example Herrlich notes about the team’s strength. “We know what type of quality we’re going to face,” explained the FCA head coach, and, above all, is wary of striker Timo Werner. “It will be a huge challenge to defend against him. We know his strengths and he has unbelievable quality.” Werner has already scored 26 goals this season, and in the summer he will move to Chelsea FC.
Eleventh place is technically possible – Luthe a possible doubt
While there isn’t much that Leipzig can achieve from their side of the match, FCA want to climb a couple more positions in the table on the last day of the season. Augsburg currently sit in 15th place, but it’s theoretically possible they can climb as high as 11th. “In the best-case scenario, we can climb a few more places higher,“ explains Herrlich. “It’s our aim to make the most of it – and we’ll do everything we can do get as high as possible.” It’s for this reason that the 48-year-old is intending to play "with the best possible team and take no risks”. One change between the sticks is possible, however. Goalkeeper Andreas Luthe was injured in training, so it is very doubtful as to whether he’ll be able to play against Leipzig. This could mean a return for Tomáš Koubek on Saturday.
Strong home record against Leipzig – One win, two draws
Whoever is in goal, he and the rest of the Augsburg defence will have themselves a job to do. Despite the team’s underdog status in the fixture, Herrlich hopes his team will have a positive end to the season. “The exciting thing about football is that the underdogs always manage to spring a surprise,” said the FCA coach. Fans of FCA should take heart in Augsburg’s home record against Leipzig. Augsburg have been unbeaten in the past three matches so far (one win, two draws).
With three points, Heiko Herrlich’s side would give their supporters a long-overdue home win. Their last win at home came in February, in a 2-1 win over Werder Bremen, and since then there have been three draws and three defeats. “We want to finish strongly,” emphasizes Herrlich. “Especially for our fans, who unfortunately can’t be in the stadium with us.”
