Thorup: “We want to put in a good performance”
After the hard-fought 1-1 draw against Borussia Dortmund, FC Augsburg are looking to give everything once more at VfB Stuttgart on Wednesday evening (20:30 CET). It will be their final game of the calendar year 2023.
“Against Dortmund, the team showed that we can hold our own against a top opponent,” said Thorup, who immediately after the game shifted his focus onto the short preparation time for the upcoming encounter. FCA will take around 2,500 fans with them to Stuttgart on Wednesday and will look to create a good atmosphere in the away end. VfB currently sit fourth in the table, but suffered a 3-0 defeat in Munich last time out. Despite this, the Swabian side are “one of the big surprises so far. They’ve had a good first half of the season and are particularly strong in possession,” said Thorup with regard to our next opponents.
“Everyone’s desperate for their chance”
On the matchday itself, the team will make the journey to Stuttgart and move into a hotel for the night. Two days before the game, every player, apart from Iago, is currently available to the FCA head coach on the training pitch. The Brazilian winger, who missed the last two matches with muscle problems, is still a doubt. Beyond that though, Thorup is pleased that the players are all “desperate for their chance. That raises the quality of the whole team.”
The 53-year-old has been FCA boss since mid-October. Wrapping up the year, Thorup looks back on the past few weeks and finds only positives: “It’s brilliant what the team’s shown in these eight games.” Before the winter break, the Fuggerstädter will go on the charge one more time. “It’s about getting three points and a positive end to the year. We want to put in a good performance,” emphasises Thorup, who will travel to his home country of Denmark for the winter break at the end of the week.
