FCA coach Enrico Maaen protects his coaching colleague from Baden. And ex-Freiburg player Ermedin Demirovic recently scored two goals for Augsburg.
For Enrico Maaen, SC Freiburg is a role model. Before his team’s guest appearance in Breisgau, the FC Augsburg football coach raved about his colleague Christian Streich. The unspoken word at the press conference was the term continuity. “It’s admirable to leave your mark on a club for so long,” said 39-year-old Maaen, expressing his admiration for Streich. The 58-year-old has been head coach in Freiburg since 2012.
“You associate SC Freiburg with its name, its face,” said the Augsburg coach on Friday. Streich enjoys “great appreciation from all colleagues and from me.” Maaen praised the exchange with the opinionated cult coach, who even led Freiburg to the European Cup for the second time in a row. The exchange with Streich is always “very respectful”. It remains to be seen whether this was also the case in January of this year: During the Fuggerstadters’ 3-1 defeat at the Europa Park Stadium, FCA striker Mergim Berisha caused a violent reaction with his provocative goal celebration in front of the Freiburg Südtribne – with the SC fans and subsequently on both coaching benches for different reasons.
In any case, Maaen’s goal is to be able to develop a team “over several years.” Similar to how Streich does it in Freiburg. However, the top players are regularly bought away there, which in turn brings the club lavish profits.
With the rejuvenation of the Augsburg team initiated by players like Arne Engels (20) and Dion Beljo (21), Maaen sees himself on the right track. “If this group grows together, as we all hope, then we will have a great team that we can hold together in the future for just as long as SC Freiburg,” he hopes. First of all, Maaen has to rebuild in Freiburg. In the first win of the season a week ago against Mainz (2-1), midfielder Engels was shown a red card for serious fouls. The young Belgian is now suspended for two games. The Augsburg coach named ex-Freiburger Tim Breithaupt, Fredrik Jensen, Niklas Dorsch and Arne Maier as replacement candidates.
No matter who plays, a win in Freiburg would be a small milestone for Maaen and the FCA. Because the last away win was almost a year ago. On October 2, 2022, the Augsburg team won against FC Schalke 04, who were later relegated. “That is the next challenge,” emphasized sports director Marinko Jurendic. The Swiss with Croatian roots also warned the Augsburg team to start the games more awake. Most recently against Mainz and Leipzig, Maaen’s team fell behind early on.
But Augsburg managed to turn things around against Mainz. “It was a step in the right direction,” praised captain and double goalscorer Ermedin Demirovic, “which will inspire us in the coming weeks.” The game in Freiburg is a reunion with his former club for Demirovic. SC coach Streich hopes that Demirovic will be less accurate on Sunday than before.
#Maaßen #sings #praises #pranks
