Thorup: "Our aim is to reach the quarter-finals"
Cup clash in Karlsruhe on Wednesday
First Team
02.12.2024, 14:30
On Wednesday evening, it’s go through or go home as FC Augsburg travel to second-tier Karlsruher SC for their DFB-Pokal round of 16 tie (kick-off 20:45 CET). Head coach Jess Thorup’s side have one, very simple goal in mind – make it to the last eight.
“Our aim is to reach the quarter-finals,” emphasised Thorup. FCA last reached that stage of the competition during the 2018/19 season before being knocked out in cruel fashion as RB Leipzig prevailed 2-1 after extra time. The upcoming opponent this time around is a strong second-division outfit but Thorup has been paying close attention to the way Christian Eichner’s KSC team operate. “Karlsruhe are a very well-organised team and are dangerous from both crosses and set-plays.”
While KSC fell to a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Hamburger SV at the weekend, FCA had rather more luck, winning 1-0 against VfL Bochum to gain both important points and positive vibes. “This will be a new and exciting challenge,” explained Thorup, who is looking forward to the support that his team will be given by the 2,700 or so travelling fans.
Hope for potential comebacks but Pedersen is absent
Whether Robert Gumny, Dimitris Giannoulis and Fredrik Jensen will be fit enough to make their returns from injury remains a case of waiting and seeing. The trio were at least able to complete individual training sessions once again on Monday. It has been confirmed, however, that Mads Pedersen will be out until the end of the year while also requiring groin surgery.
“Every player is desperate to make the squad,” said Thorup, adding, “We will field our best possible line-up.” The decision to start Finn Dahmen in goal has already been made, as was the case last time out in the cup when FCA won 3-0 against Schalke 04.
