Koubek: “Anything is possible for us”

Tomáš Koubek has been at Augsburg for only one week but is already fully integrated into the team. Koubek has already played a full 90 minutes in the DFB-Pokal match against Verl (1-2) and his next task awaits at the weekend. On Saturday 17th August (15:30 CEST) FCA’s Bundesliga season kicks off against Borussia Dortmund. Tomáš Koubek has had a stressful first week. A few days ago the Czech international was still playing in the French Supercup against Paris Saint Germain in China but has now already made his competitive debut in an FC Augsburg kit. “It’s been a crazy week for me,” said the keeper. “On Saturday I was playing a match in China, then I flew 14 hours to France and packed up my things. Then on Monday I was here. Everything is new here and everything is moving fast but I have arrived now and I am extremely happy.” Koubek moved to FCA from Stade Rennes. But what why did he choose to come to Augsburg? For many reasons, according to the 26-year-old: “I wanted a new challenge and the Bundesliga is the biggest challenge in football. The full stadiums, the fans, the fantastic players, are all what sets the Bundesliga apart. When I met with the officials from FC Augsburg I got the feeling that I wouldn’t just be treated as a goalkeeper here, but as a person too. Here in Augsburg I can learn a lot from the other players and goalkeepers, which will help me to develop as a player.”

Bundesliga debut at the Signal-Iduna-Park

For FCA the new Bundesliga season starts against Borussia Dortmund. This is a tough first opponent but Koubek is optimistic: “I am very excited about the game at Dortmund. Of course, Dortmund are a strong opposition but we will fight and give it our all. It’s football, the game lasts 90 minutes, and anything is possible for us.” Koubek already boasts a great deal of experience against big opposition. He has played against Inter Milan and Arsenal in the Europa League, and the goalkeeper wants to use this experience to help his new teammates: “I want to have a calming presence in the team. I want them to walk onto the pitch feeling confident, knowing that I am behind them.”