Promoted side Augsburg came into the season as the top candidate by most experts to be relegated to the second division. But heading into the 27th game day on Saturday at Weser Stadium at 3:30 p.m., Augsburg...
Promoted side Augsburg came into the season as the top candidate by most experts to be relegated to the second division. But heading into the 27th game day on Saturday at Weser Stadium at 3:30 p.m., Augsburg...
Promoted side Augsburg came into the season as the top candidate by most experts to be relegated to the second division. But heading into the 27th game day on Saturday at Weser Stadium at 3:30 p.m., Augsburg are 15th on the table still with hopes of keeping the league. And Werder coach Thomas Schaaf warned his team about Augsburg in the official press conference before the game. "They are incredibly active with so much passion. No one has written off the season there or given up. Just the opposite. They are full of excitement. Everyone wants to prove that they can stay in the league," said Schaaf.

Jos Luhukay's team has put together a small string of success with two deserved victories (over Mainz and Hertha Berlin) and two unexpected draws (against Hannover and Borussia Dortmund). "At the moment, they are rewarding themselves for the commitment they have showed all season," said Schaaf about Augsburg. The team expected to certainly drop are close to saving themselves, and they feel more alive than ever before. "The relegation battle is fun for us, not burdensome - as opposed to the other teams," Augsburg manager Andreas Rettig told the mass daily Bild shortly before the start of the second half of the season. Rettig and Luhukay - the latter who has been Augsburg coach since 2009 - are in the middle of writing their own Augsburg fairy tale. Rettig took over his position nearly six years ago when Augsburg ended 23 years of insignificance in the amateur ranks and were promoted to the second division. Rettig will be leaving the club in the summer, hopefully after helping Augsburg stay in the top flight.
Schaaf: Augsburg will want to push forward quickly
Until then, Luhukay's team will continue to face their challenge week by week - with everyone on board. "We are going until the last game day. If we keep getting points like this everything will be okay. But we are remaining humble. And should we stumble back down we will not get nervous," said Sebastian Langkamp, who scored the game-winner against Mainz. "But in football, especially the relegation fight, sometimes it depends on more than just the quality of the players. For example the enthusiasm. And Augsburg's fans celebrate every point. They continually fall in love again with the first division," wrote the magazine 11Freunde (11 Friends). And the fans who come to Weser Stadium will be looking for surprise points as well. "I think that Augsburg will rely on pushing forward quickly. They will not allow too much on defence," said Schaaf. The coach said his team must be "active", especially on offence.
