Thommy: "We go into the Mainz game with lots of confidence”

  FCA have struggled in the past against 1. FSV Mainz 05, but Manuel Baum is not placing any value on statistics when Augsburg travel to Mainz this Saturday (02.12 at 15:30 CET). Rani Khedira may still make an appearance on the weekend. Rani Khedira is yet to train this week, so the midfielder remains a doubt for the weekend. Gojko Kacar (ankle) is the only other doubt in Manuel Baum’s squad. You have to go back four years for the last time Augsburg beat Mainz. Manuel Baum is not getting caught up on statistics though. Neither is the head coach getting carried away by Augsburg’s eighth placed league ranking. “We’re not looking up or down the league table – we’re looking forwards,” Baum emphasised. The 38-year old doesn’t want “to sit” on the club’s current point tally – there remain a lot of points to pick up ahead of the winter break. Mainz are 13th in the league table, four points below Augsburg. All of Mainz’s four wins this season have come at home. “Sandro Schwarz is doing some really good work,” praised Baum. “The Zerofivers are very strong in the air, have a solid team mentality and are aggressive and disciplined off the ball,” concluded the head coach, who is expecting an even encounter. Baum on debutant Thommy: “He’s a versatile player and a good finisher” Erik Thommy may get another opportunity to showcase his talents this weekend. The 23-year old made his debut in the home win against Wolfsburg. “I was delighted, it was a dream, to start my first Bundesliga game,” said the number 26. Baum described the midfielder as “versatile and a good finisher, who finds space well.” The FCA head coach further praised Thommy’s attitude: “Erik doesn’t get down when he doesn’t play. He deserved his start against Wolfsburg.” Thommy himself is determined to end FCA’s winless run against Mainz: “We can go into the game with lots of confidence”.