Maaßen: “We want to secure our Bundesliga status ourselves”
Final home game vs. Dortmund on matchday 33
First Team
19.05.2023, 14:14
FC Augsburg’s final home match of the 2022/23 Bundesliga season sees them host title chasers Borussia Dortmund at a sold-out WWK ARENA on Sunday (21st May, 17:30 CEST). As BVB look to gain more points in the race for the title, FCA are looking to secure their Bundesliga status for next season.
“There’s still a fair way to go,” commented head coach Enrico Maaßen ahead of the penultimate matchday of the campaign. FC Augsburg are set to face the strongest team in the second half of the season in Borussia Dortmund, who are in the thick of a title fight with FC Bayern München: “Dortmund have a lot of individual quality and play with lots of tempo,” Maaßen is aware of the strengths of the upcoming opposition. “However, we’ve been able to trip up lots of good teams already and have a good home record.”
After winning 1-0 in their previous home game against Union Berlin, FCA succumbed to a 3-2 defeat in Bochum last Saturday, missing the chance to secure their Bundesliga status for next year. “Of course, we were disappointed after last week’s game,” summarised Maaßen, who was quick to divert attention towards the task in hand: “We need to be voracious and brave without the ball. All the things we’ve done well on several occasions need to be on top form on Sunday. We want to confirm our Bundesliga status ourselves and play in the top flight for a thirteenth time next season.”
Engels back, Gumny suspended
Arne Engels returns to the squad after serving a one-match suspension, but Enrico Maaßen will have to manage without Robert Gumny this weekend, who picked up his fifth yellow card against Bochum. Fredrik Jensen, Iago, Ruben Vargas, Rafał Gikiewicz and Arne Maier have also been training individually and are likely to be unavailable for Sunday.
Maaßen believes it is too soon to evaluate the season. However, he believes “we can take a lot of positives out of this season, for example our improved performances at home, with our fans playing a big part in that.” For the sixth fixture in a row, the WWK ARENA is sold out for the visit of Borussia Dortmund.
