Thorup: "Important to start the season off strong"

FC Augsburg will open the 2024/25 Bundesliga season at home against SV Werder Bremen on Saturday afternoon (15:30 CEST). Head coach Jess Thorup's side are looking to get off to a successful start against last season's ninth-place finishers from Bremen.

"Our first goal has been achieved, and now comes the second. It's important to start the season off strong," Thorup said during the pre-match press conference, referring to FCA's 4-1 win against Viktoria Berlin in the first round of the DFB-Pokal. "We kept trying to control the game, which we managed to do. In the end, we deservedly won. If we manage to keep playing like that in the league, then that would be ideal." 

The head coach is feeling optimistic ahead of the first Bundesliga game of the season, but warns "It's not easy to win the opening game. Werder didn't make things easy for us last season." In 2023/24, Augsburg lost both games against the Green-Whites, conceding five goals in the process. 

Werder also advanced to the second round of the DFB-Pokal last weekend, with Thorup saying, "Of course I watched Werder's game. They played good football and also deservedly advanced."

Wolf an option to start

"I have a good feeling about my team. There's competition for spots in several positions, which is why our starting line-up isn't set yet. Marius Wolf is also an option to start," revealed the head coach. He will have nearly a full squad to choose from on Saturday, with Fredrik Jensen and Steve Mounié back in full team training, along with Masaya Okugawa. Only Finn Dahmen and Robert Gumny are still working towards their comebacks. 

Thorup is expecting a physical game with plenty of one-v-ones and an opponent that will put pressure on the ball. "Over the last weeks, we've worked on how to react to situations like that," said Thorup. "Compared to our last two meetings with them, we need to improve. But, given how our pre-season went, I'm feeling confident." 

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