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13.12.2024Werkself-TV

Alonso ahead of #FCAB04: 'Playing in Augsburg is always tough'

The Werkself are away to FC Augsburg tomorrow, Saturday 14 December (kick-off: 15.30 CET at the WWK Arena). Ahead of the game, head coach Xabi Alonso sounded a warning about an opponent strong at home and stressed the significance of the last two Bundesliga matches of this calendar year.

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"Our results are back on course recently. Before that we were always focused but now we have learned from the little mistakes we made in the games at VfL Bochum and Werder Bremen. Our mentality is good but we can't let up and we have to maintain this level. If we relax we won't have a chance at Augsburg," said Alonso at the start of the pre-match press conference. The Bundesliga is "the most important competition – because you have to prove yourselves every week. Every match is important and intense."

Augsburg strong at home

FCA have picked up 14 points in the Bundesliga so far this season with only Borussia Dortmund (19) and Bayern Munich (16) clocking up more points on their own turf. The Spaniard therefore sounded a warning: "In my experience, playing in Augsburg was always difficult in the last two years. In addition, they have recently changed their system and their strikers are in good form. We expect to face a strong opponent." Therefore, the key to the game has to always be "interpreting it right and finding the right balance between attractive and uncompromising play," said Alonso.

Personnel: Schick may play

Whether or not Patrik Schick will be available for the away game will only be decided after the final pre-match training session on Friday afternoon. Alonso: "It's possible but we don't want to take any big risks and we'll see if he feels ready." Fellow striker Victor Boniface is not an option for the match in Augsburg. It remains to be seen whether he will be able to make his comeback in the last home game in 2024 against SC Freiburg on Saturday, 21 December (kick-off: 18.30 CET at the BayArena).

The Werkself will have the support of 1,650 Bayer 04 fans at the WWK Arena on Saturday afternoon.

 

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