FC Augsburg manager Manuel Baum has recreated the Energie Cottbus stadium atmosphere during training to prepare his squad for Saturday’s DFB-Pokal first-round tie. The Bavarians enter the fixture as favourites against the second-tier side, yet Baum has implemented unusually specific measures to ensure his players avoid complacency in their competitive return.
The training-ground simulation aimed to replicate the pressures his side will encounter away from home. Baum regards the match as a genuine test rather than a formality, particularly given that competitive sharpness may vary between the Bundesliga outfit and their opponents at this early stage.
Baum highlights Cottbus credentials
The Augsburg coach has spoken respectfully of the threat posed by Claus-Dieter Wollitz’s team. He considers Energie Cottbus to have “real quality already” and stressed the need for proper focus.
“It’s already a challenge that in our first match [of the new season] we have someone who meets us on equal terms,” Baum said. “That will certainly help us in the league to already have a tough nut to crack like Cottbus now.”
Wollitz will hope to exploit any early-season rust from the top-flight visitors. The second division club can approach the tie without pressure, knowing cup shocks remain a recurring feature of the competition’s opening phase.
Competitive return
The match marks Augsburg’s first competitive appearance of the new campaign. While the priority remains securing progression, Baum views the encounter as valuable preparation for the forthcoming league programme.
The DFB-Pokal’s first round has historically produced notable surprises, with professional teams vulnerable against motivated lower-tier opposition. Baum’s decision to simulate match conditions suggests Augsburg are treating the fixture with appropriate seriousness while seeking to build rhythm ahead of their domestic season.