Thorup demands reaction: FCA meets Demirovic and VfB Stuttgart!

Jess Thorup, coach of FC Augsburg (FCA), comments negatively about the holidays, especially with regard to the latest defeat against Kiel. The trainer emphasizes the desire to improve in all areas and demands full focus from his team. The first competitive game of the new year is on Sunday against VfB Stuttgart, in which Thorup wants to see a reaction of his players after the setback suffered.

Ermedin Demirovic, former FCA player, now plays for VfB Stuttgart, to which he changed in summer for a transfer fee of 21 million euros. In the current season, Demirovic scored five goals in the first six games, but since then he has only been able to hit the net twice. In the run-up to the game against his ex-club, his ambition is particularly high, while the Augsburg team endeavors to make amends after the defeat against Kiel.

injuries and squad problems

VfB Stuttgart is currently struggling with some injury problems. El Bilal Touré fails due to a breach of midfoot and Deniz Undav also had to pause in the last six games due to a muscle fiber tear. In addition, the newcomer Nick Woltemade has scored four goals in the meantime, which at risk Demirovic's space in the squad.

The Augsburg team, on the other hand, can rely on the return of captain Jeffrey Gouweleeuw after a dismissed lock. However, Keven Schlotterbeck is questionable. In the current transfer phase, the Augsburgers focus on central defense, since only four players are available for three positions. Rumors are circulating about a transfer from Victor Nelsson from Galatasaray Istanbul, while Reece Oxford, who suffers from Long Covid, approaches team training, but still takes some time to be operational again.

The upcoming game against VfB Stuttgart takes place on a new lawn. Demirovic, who now switched to VfB Stuttgart in 2024 and has played in a variety of competitions since then, will play a central role in this duel. Loud Augsburg journal and wikipedia a special encounter with his former team.