FC Augsburg

Thorup rated the performances against Köln (1-1 draw), Wolfsburg (3-2 win) and Heidenheim (5-2 win) first as “okay” and then as “good”, with his side picking up a total of seven points from these three games. “It was just a small step in the right direction. We can’t let up now because there’s still a lot of work to do,” said the 53-year-old Dane, who would like to further fine tune the balance between attack and defence. 

The 46-year-old, who, as well as his mother tongue, can also speak English, German and Spanish, has moved to FCA from his position as head coach of the Danish first-division side Viborg FF, having also successfully worked in the same role at Aalborg BK. The Dane, who holds a UEFA Pro licence, has signed a contract with FCA until 30th June 2025 and will get to work with the team for the first time this Wednesday..

Following last weekend’s thrilling 3-2 win against VfL Wolfsburg, Thorup made one change to his starting line-up. Felix Uduokhai was serving a one-match suspension following his red card last time out (two yellows), and was replaced in the XI by Maximilian Bauer. Japhet Tanganga returned to the matchday squad for the first time after recovering from a knee injury. 

The hosts didn’t need long to test FCA goalkeeper Finn Dahmen, with Luca Waldschmidt’s effort going just wide in the seventh minute). Less than 10 minutes later, Köln were able to take the lead through Linton Maina (16′). However, FCA quickly shook off this setback and nearly drew level just three minutes later through Ermedin Demirović, who was denied by the left post. Phillip Tietz then got on the end of a cross from Fredrik Jensen to equalise for FCA, netting his third goal in Thorup’s third match in charge (25′). 

Both sides continued to press in seach of a go-ahead goal, with the hosts creating more, but FCA having the higher quality of chances. Niklas Dorsch nearly put FCA ahead just before the break, but his free kick from 18 metres out crashed off the crossbar (42′). 

Phillip Tietz: “Even though we went into the game with higher hopes, we’ll take a point. Köln made life difficult for us and won a lot of second balls. If you factor in the home support, too, it was a tricky game. Props to our defenders, though – they were amazing today. Finn was fantastic too and he stopped them from scoring another goal. We still had good chances and can take positives from the game.”

FCA head coach Jess Thorup has been on the winning side in his first two games (5-2 vs. Heidenheim, 3-2 against Wolfsburg), however lots of work has been done on his side’s defensive play during training this week. “Köln have made more crosses than any other team in the league, so we’ll need to be alert to them,” said the 53-year-old Dane, who, as always, would like to focus on his team’s own strengths. 

Head coach Jess Thorup is set to be without the 24-year-old for the next four weeks.

Following last weekend’s 5-2 triumph at 1. FC Heidenheim, Thorup named an unchanged starting XI for his home debut. Ruben Vargas returned to the squad after recovering from an adductor injury. 

Niklas Dorsch: The coach drummed it into us that we can deal with going behind and come back again quickly. That’s the most important base mindset. We showed that in Heidenheim and again today – that will definitely have been exciting for the fans. But we relax now, as next week we face another difficult game in Cologne. We need to take this positive feeling with us. The atmosphere in the stadium today was breathtaking and that gave us goosebumps. There’s a group developing here who can rely on each other and I’m pleased that the team still turned the game around after the penalty.

“Hopefully we’ll be able to take a lot of things from that game with us into the next match,” said Jess Thorup, looking back on his first two weeks in charge of FC Augsburg. “I feel at home in the city and at the club. I’m feeling good and looking forward to the future. The most important thing is that we won our first game together.”

Thorup made four changes to the team who lost 2-1 against Darmstadt before the international break. Mads Pedersen, Sven Michel, Fredrik Jensen and former Heidenheim player Niklas Dorsch all came into the starting eleven, with Masaya Okugawa on the bench for the first time following a knee injury.