Thorup: "Need the same level of intensity as against Dortmund"
DFB-Pokal game against Schalke
First Team
28.10.2024, 15:00
Following their 2-1 home win against Borussia Dortmund, FC Augsburg now turn their attentions to Tuesday’s DFB-Pokal clash with FC Schalke 04 at the WWK ARENA (29/10, 18:00 CET). Head coach Jess Thorup spoke about his side’s mentality and made clear he hopes to see these attributes again in mid-week.
“We always believed that it would be possible to turn the game around,” Throup said when asked about the game against BVB during Monday’s pre-DFB-Pokal press conference. Despite trailing early on in Saturday’s match, FCA were able to fight their way back to take the lead thanks to a brace from Alexis Claude-Maurice. It was FCA’s third home win of the season. “It obviously gives us confidence,” said Thorup, before mentioning that spirits within the team are high at the moment. This confidence will now hopefully help FCA come out on top of their second-round clash with FC Schalke 04. “We need to bring the same intensity and willingness to run hard, as well as winning our challenges, as we did against Dortmund. Only committing 90 to 95% effort won’t be enough,” he said.
“Our focus is fully on Schalke,” said Thorup, praising the Royal Blues for their qualities as a team and warning that his side should by no means underestimate their second-division opponents. However, first and foremost, he’s focused on his team and is looking to take the momentum from the win against Dortmund with them into the coming week.
Dahmen and Claude-Maurice set to start
“He’s earned it over the past weeks and is 100% ready,” Thorup said about Finn Dahmen, who will make his return in goal for the first team on Tuesday after several appearances for the U23s. Alexis Claude-Maurice will also be back in the starting line-up after making his first start for FCA at the weekend. “He’s on a good run right now and has contributed a lot to the team in addition to his goals,” Thorup explained. The head coach will have the same squad to choose from as he did on Saturday.
