Tricky journey but top conditions

Following their 1-0 defeat to Austrian side FC Wacker Innsbruck, FC Augsburg made their way to Mals in South Tyrol on Wednesday for their first pre-season training camp. There, Manuel Baum’s men will take part in a ten-day long training camp as they look to start putting things in place for next season. FCA were given the news shortly before their departure that they would have to take a different route to their camp due to an accident, meaning that the team only arrived at 1:30 CEST. The squad nevertheless assembled at their planned meeting time of 10:00 CEST for training and everyone is physically in good condition. Those who have been on international duty and had had a few more days of holiday to enjoy reported to the club at 9:00 CEST. They completed a lactate test in the 25 degrees weather, with the rest of the squad having already been examined before heading to camp. Both new signings Michael Gregoritsch (from Hamburger SV) and Sergio Cordova, who has moved to Augsburg from Venezuela, were involved. “I’m excited to join my new teammates in training,” said 23-year-old Gregoritsch who seemed at ease as he completed the performance test. “It is a great feeling when you go somewhere new and sense that they have 100% faith in you,” said the Austrian on his transfer to FCA. “We had a long journey there and started with a lactate test,” said Alfred Finnbogason. “It is important that we get to know the new players over the next few days and that we gel together. It is crucial that we get through pre-season without any injuries,” said the Iceland striker, who knows more than anybody else what it is like to be nursing an injury. The forward spent around half a year on the sidelines with a bone issue. It was not until the end of the season that he was once again able to step in and help FCA secure their Bundesliga status with their goals.