Manuel Baum discusses Augsburg's Bundesliga campaign and future plans

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Manuel Baum, the head coach of FC Augsburg, recently gave an in-depth interview discussing his commitment to the club, his strategic approach for the upcoming Bundesliga season, and the roles of various players within his system. He also highlighted several Augsburg players that he believes should be on the radar of the new German national team coach, Jürgen Klopp.

Last season, Baum guided Augsburg to a ninth-place finish, marking the club's best league performance since 2015. His initial three-match interim role following Sandro Wagner's departure in December evolved into a more permanent position.

Initially, Baum expressed a desire to simply return to his previous role in development and innovation, famously likening his interim coaching duties to "installing guardrails on the Autobahn." However, by late April, with Augsburg safely out of the relegation zone, players like Anton Kade and Fabian Rieder publicly supported his permanent appointment. Baum eventually agreed to a contract extension through 2028.

Speaking from Augsburg's training camp, Baum revealed that his decision to remain head coach was finalized the week after the season concluded. He felt that switching back to an administrative role and appointing a new coach would disrupt the continuity he had established, emphasizing that sustainable clubs need stability rather than constant managerial changes.

Baum on Club Culture and His Role

Baum's emphasis on club culture has been a hallmark of his second tenure. He has actively engaged with fan groups, even addressing protests regarding the club's "image change" and urging supporters to offer the team greater encouragement. Following his return in Matchday 13, Augsburg accumulated points comparable to top clubs like Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich.

Baum attributes the team's success to fostering a strong unit and a positive dressing-room environment, where players enjoy their training and collaboration. The coaching staff focuses on giving each player a clear purpose and adapting tactics to suit the players' strengths rather than forcing them into a rigid system.

Tactical Plans for the Season

One tactical adjustment from the end of last season, Fabian Rieder's move to central midfield, has become permanent. Rieder himself expressed that his best performances came in this role. Baum now considers this his optimal position.

Baum also confirmed that strikers Michael Gregoritsch and Rodrigo Ribeiro can play together, appreciating their complementary profiles. Ribeiro's integration was notable, especially given Gregoritsch and other center-forward options were already in the squad when he arrived on loan. Baum's decision to give Ribeiro a surprise start in February, supported by detailed club reasoning about nurturing young talent at the right time, was rewarded with his first Bundesliga goal. Baum praised Ribeiro's technical ability and the club's scouting.

Gregoritsch was also a key player in the latter half of the season. Baum offered a balanced perspective on the Austrian's actions, including a well-regarded fair-play intervention. However, Baum prefers not to create an overwhelming number of tactical options, believing each player should have a primary position ("1A") and a secondary option ("1B") to avoid confusion.

Anton Kade is a prime example of Baum's player development approach. Initially viewing himself as a wing-back, Kade was shown how playing further forward could lead to more scoring opportunities. Baum even utilized him as a center-forward, notably in the win against Bayern Munich when Gregoritsch was unavailable.

Kade's progress has been significant, leading Baum to suggest he could be a potential international for Germany.

Potential German Internationals: Dahmen, Kade, Kömür, Banks, and Schnitzer

When asked about Augsburg players who might be considered by new Bundestrainer Jürgen Klopp, Baum readily suggested Finn Dahmen and Anton Kade. He also expressed hope that Mert Kömür, Noahkai Banks, and academy prospect Tim Schnitzer might eventually be included.

New signing Hennes Behrens was also mentioned, along with Robin Fellhauer's potential as a wing-back for Germany.

Baum had publicly advocated for goalkeeper Finn Dahmen as early as April, citing a spectacular nine-save performance against Bayer Leverkusen and arguing that his consistent displays warranted international consideration.

Noahkai Banks presents an interesting international prospect, having had a breakthrough season and remaining open to representing either the United States or Germany. Banks has credited both Wagner and Baum for their role in developing young players.

Hennes Behrens: A Promising New Signing

Hennes Behrens is expected to bring fresh talent to the team. Augsburg invested €3.5 million in the young player, whom Baum believes fits the club's recruitment profile: young, with Bundesliga experience at Heidenheim, and possessing the right personality. With Giannoulis' departure, Behrens is anticipated to receive significant playing time.

Baum described Behrens as grounded and natural, aligning with the club's desired locker-room presence. Supporters are expected to appreciate his work rate on the flank, his ability to create goals, and his potential to score. Even Heidenheim's coach, Frank Schmidt, recommended Behrens.

Manuel Baum Prepares for a Reunion with Schalke

Augsburg's opening fixture of the new campaign is against Schalke, a club Baum coached briefly in 2020. His tenure there was unusual, occurring during the COVID-19 pandemic, which meant he never experienced Schalke in its typical full-stadium atmosphere, even missing out on a typical Revierderby.

His second stint with Augsburg has yielded more memorable experiences, including victories over Bayer Leverkusen and Bayern Munich, the latter ending Bayern's 27-match unbeaten streak. The aftermath of the Bayern win led to a lighthearted press conference exchange about whether the Augsburg players could celebrate with a beer.

Crucially, Augsburg transformed from relegation candidates to a ninth-place team. The focus now is on what Baum and his stable squad can achieve with a full season. When asked what would make him happy in a year's time, Baum humorously replied that he hoped to still be the Augsburg head coach.

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