Sandro Wagner faces sack threat: do-or-die clash with BVB looms | OneFootball

Borussia Dortmund faces the struggling FC Augsburg on Friday evening. For coach Sandro Wagner, the match could become the decisive game for his job.

The situation at FC Augsburg is intensifying ahead of the Bundesliga clash with Borussia Dortmund. After being knocked out of the cup by second-division side VfL Bochum (0:1) and suffering a 0:6 thrashing against RB Leipzig, coach Sandro Wagner is increasingly under pressure. Nevertheless, the 37-year-old remains combative – and sees the crisis as an opportunity.

“We have a huge opportunity tomorrow. I think very few people are counting on us, and that’s a great situation,” Wagner said at the press conference before the match against BVB. Despite the bitter results of recent weeks, the former national player remains optimistic: “I don’t feel the heaviness, I’m still in good spirits.”

Wagner wants to stick to basic principles, but also draw consequences. “Of course we have to change something. We’re not stubborn or naive,” he explained. The coach wants to focus especially on “structural issues, pressing, and defensive shadowing.” Changes in the starting eleven are certain – and regular goalkeeper Finn Dahmen will also return after his cup break.

Augsburg coach Wagner under pressure ahead of the BVB match

Despite the sporting misery, the club’s management continues to back Wagner. “Today the CEO came to me and said: We’re totally up for going down this path with you as coach, and we’re just excited about it,” he reported. He also feels support from the sporting management: “Everyone is giving me something, I’m not alone, and that’s awesome.”

Wagner even sees this difficult phase as a personal development process: “If we get through this, it’s great for my personality. After many positive years, maybe this rough patch will do me some good.”

While discussions about his future are ongoing in Augsburg, Borussia Dortmund’s coach Niko Kovac shows understanding, but remains focused. “I have sympathy for every single coach, because there are two types of coaches: those who have already been dismissed, and those who will be. That’s our job,” said Kovac – but at the same time emphasized: “We can’t also take care of the other 17 teams.”

For Sandro Wagner and FCA, there’s only one thing that counts on Friday evening: deliver. Another setback against Dortmund could seriously endanger Wagner’s position as coach – and thus make BVB the indirect trigger for a coaching change in Augsburg.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.