AUGSBURG, Germany – FC Augsburg is shaking things up for the upcoming season under new head coach Sandro Wagner, bringing drones, heavy beats, and massive tactical screens to training. The club is keeping quiet about specific goals, but interest in the team has never been higher.
The Swabians are heading into their 15th Bundesliga season, and it’s clear they’ve captured the nation’s attention more than ever. Last season, more than half of their home games sold out, with an average attendance of nearly 30,000, a new club record narrowly missed.
First-Ever Top Match: FC Augsburg vs. FC Bayern
A significant indicator of this newfound national interest is the Bundesliga schedule for the second matchday. While rivals HSV faces FC St. Pauli, Bayer Leverkusen plays Werder Bremen, and VfB Stuttgart meets Borussia Mönchengladbach, the Saturday evening spotlight falls on FC Augsburg versus FC Bayern Munich. This marks the first time in 28 meetings that Augsburg has been selected for a prime-time slot.
This elevated status isn’t solely due to Augsburg’s historical knack for making things tough for the Munich giants, located just an hour away. The primary driver is the arrival of Sandro Wagner as head coach. In a surprising move, Augsburg parted ways with popular coach Jess Thorup after a twelfth-place finish last season, despite flirting with European qualification. Shortly after, the club announced Wagner’s appointment.
New Training Methods: Rap Music and Drones at FCA
Wagner has been at the helm in Augsburg for about a month, and his innovative approach is evident during training camps. A drone hovers overhead, providing an aerial view, while tactical instructions are displayed on a massive video screen. The sessions are often fueled by loud rap music from artists like Eminem, Kanye West, J. Cole, and Kendrick Lamar, creating a high-energy atmosphere on the pitch.
Standing on the sidelines, the new coach observes intently, legs wide, arms crossed, eyebrows furrowed in concentration. “There’s a good atmosphere,” commented forward Samuel Adebayo, describing the team’s training camp in Austria. “We’ve been working hard, especially on the tactical side.”
FC Augsburg Invests in New Talent for the Bundesliga
The club has also been busy in the transfer market, securing six new players for an estimated total of just under 15 million euros. Elias Saad, signed from FC St. Pauli for approximately two million euros, explained the team’s focus: “The coach wants to imprint his game idea on us, both defensively and offensively. That’s the main focus right now.”
Among the new arrivals are central defenders Chrislain Matsima (around five million euros from AS Monaco) and Cèdric Zesinger (four million euros from VfL Wolfsburg), with their purchase options exercised. Han-Noah Massengo (three million euros from FC Burnley) and Robin Feilhauer (700,000 euros from SV Elversberg) have bolstered the midfield. Additionally, 20-year-old Kyliane Dong joined on a free transfer from Troyes.
Wagner: “My DNA is Active Football”
Transfer activity is far from over, with rumors swirling about potential new signings like Derrick Köhn, Ibrahima Sissoko, Elias Jelert, Max Johnston, and Fabian Rieder. While the current focus has been on strengthening the defense, Wagner’s game philosophy is undeniably offensive. He emphasized this during his official presentation in early July, stating, “My DNA is active football! We don’t measure our success primarily by our league position. We want to see development, and the fans should enjoy our football.”
Forbidden Word: Europe – What’s Next for FCA?
The term “European business” is currently off-limits for the Swabians. The club aims to manage expectations to avoid undue pressure on the new coach and the team. Publicly stated goals remain intentionally vague, with Wagner simply aiming “upwards.” New sporting director Benjamin Weber wants to “always win,” while managing director Michael Ströll aims for the team to “develop further, also in the standings.” New signing Saad is optimistic about the team’s potential, aiming to “shake up the Bundesliga. A surprise team.”
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