Weinzierl: “An extremely important game”
Gregoritsch and Vargas back in training
First Team
05.04.2022, 15:17
FC Ausgburg’s rescheduled match at home to 1. FSV Mainz 05 is up next, with kick-off at 18:30 CEST on Wednesday evening. Head coach Markus Weinzierl wants his squad to make “a big step forward” and keep adding distance between themselves and the relegation zone.
The current state of FCA’s squad looks to be cause for optimism, as Weinzierl reported at the start of his pre-match press conference. Following André Hahn’s return to the squad and late cameo in the 3-0 win at home to VfL Wolfsburg on Sunday, Ruben Vargas (tonsillitis) and Michael Gregoritsch (Covid-19) have now also returned to training. “We’ll have to wait and see if they’re fit enough,” explained Weinzierl.
Other than these three returnees, the squad remains the same as it was on Sunday against Wolfsburg. “We’re in no position to be wrapping certain players in cotton wool; we have to give everything in every game. That means we’ll always select what is, in our opinion, the best line-up we have.”
Weinzierl: “Our supporters really spur us on”
As this game at home to Mainz was rescheduled from Matchday 26 to Wednesday evening, it is a chance for both teams to make best use of their game in hand over the rest of the teams in the Bundesliga. FCA’s head coach gave an insight into his mentality for the game: “We’re currently three points away from the relegation zone, but after full time it should be a six point gap.”
It will be anything but an easy task, though, and Weinzierl knows that: “Mainz are a robust side and play an intense game; they’re a higher calibre of opponent than Wolfsburg. We’re yet to win back-to-back games this season, and that’s the goal now. If we perform on Wednesday the same way we did on Sunday, a victory is definitely on the cards.”
The fans will once again play an important part in Wednesday evening’s game, said Weinzierl: “We want to be just as hungry for the win as we were on Sunday. The fans are always an important factor in influencing a game like this, that’s for sure. You saw the effects of that in Stuttgart, yes, but also against Wolfsburg. Our supporters really spur us on and we’re really happy to have them for our final four home games this season.”
