Weinzierl: “We’re concentrating on ourselves”
FCA want to secure Bundesliga status against Leipzig
First Team
06.05.2022, 13:43
FC Augsburg can make their place in next season’s Bundesliga a certainty on Sunday (19:30 CEST) against RasenBallsport Leipzig. Head coach Markus Weinzierl doesn’t want to pay attention to the competition and wants his team to take charge of their own fate.
The situation going into the final away game of the season is clear. A point in Leipzig on Sunday would ensure FCA’s safety from relegation. If VfB Stuttgart do not win away against Bayern Munich in their game which kicks off two hours before, Augsburg’s Bundesliga status will already be confirmed ahead of kick off in their own game.
“We’re concentrating on ourselves because we’re in control of our own destiny,” said Markus Weinzierl, whose team are six points ahead of VfB in the table. However, the head coach still admitted that the team will follow the other fixture closely.
There are doubts over the availability of Iago, who was brought off after a strong collision in the 4-1 loss to Köln, and André Hahn (knee). Mads Pedersen is available again after missing the last game through suspension. Regardless of player availability, Weinzierl wants more concentration from his side than last time out. “We made too many individual errors,” said the 46-year-old.
Weinzierl on Leipzig: "A top team on the international stage"
This weekend’s opponents Leipzig narrowly missed out on making the Europa League final on Thursday, after a 3-1 second-leg loss in the semi-final against Glasgow Rangers. “They’ll put the disappointment behind them,” warned Weinzierl. “For them, it’s about making the Champions League places and they’ll be fully of motivation. They’re a top team on the international stage and are having a good second half of the season.”
Above all, Weinzierl highlighted the biggest threat of Leipzig’s as the “many individuals who can decide a game on their own.” Looking back to his team’s narrow 1-0 defeat to Bayern a few weeks ago, or the 1-1 draw in the reverse fixture against Leipzig, when Daniel Caliguiri scored a late penalty to equalise, however, the head coach said, “We know that we can pick up points against the top teams.”
