Trainer Jess Thorup talks about goals, criticism and future

Mr. Thorup, you broke records in the second half of the season and for the first time five game days before the end of the season, made it up to the season. What happened during the winter break?
Jess Thorup: When we went on vacation, I thought: it will be a fight until the last game. I am therefore very satisfied with 42 points five game days before the end. Sometimes something negative has to happen to learn more and faster. After the 1: 5 in Kiel before the winter break, it was clear: so we have no chance of staying in the league. We also included the players, made adjustments, no longer played with two strikers, but with three offensive players. We wanted to bring more intensity into it, wanted to go higher and wanted to better defend our penalty area.

In the second half of the season, they have only lost to FC Bayern Munich.
Thorup: The team found unity. The realization was: we are very strong against the ball. Of course everyone wants to play attractive and aggressively. As a trainer, I have to keep an eye on the strengths of the individual players. Is that tikitaka or something else? We had a hole in the boat that we had to plug. Our focus was on keeping zero. At the moment we are one of the best teams in Europe on the defensive, we can be proud of that.

What role did the goalkeeper change play to Dahmen, who stayed for 683 minutes without conceding a goal?
Thorup: Nediljko Labrovic made mistakes in Kiel, but that was not decisive. I am no one who exchanges the goalkeeper after a game, but give him trust for several games. Finn trained well and did it very well in the cup twice. That was more of a gut feeling. I wanted to bring in another element because we as a team conceded too many goals. He then played well and set a record. This is how it sometimes works in football.

Can he become a German national goalkeeper?
Thorup: Yes, that is possible. If you are on the list, the way is not too far. If Finn continues to perform well at the FCA, it is possible that he will get a chance in the national team.

What is possible for the FCA? What goal are you pursuing in the last five games?
Thorup: We are all highly ambitious and want to achieve the best possible. We can go hunting freely. My feeling tells me that a lot is possible. If you publicly issue the European Cup as the goal, expectation increases and the pressure grows. I am not talking about a certain place in the table because we have driven well so far to focus from game to game.

Was that the problem last season when Europe was also an issue? Hasn’t the team got along with the pressure?
Thorup: No, it was another situation. We had a lot of injured and feared international players, injured the European Championship. Europe was also an issue. There was a lot going on in the cabin and around the club. We took this as a learning effect. Now nobody talks about Europe – although everyone knows what is possible. Everyone talks about the next game.

Are you prepared for meeting Frankfurt?
Thorup: Both teams have a momentum. We played well against Dortmund, Leipzig, Freiburg and last Bavaria. This is the next way for us to prove yourself against a top team.

Despite the continuing success, the criticism of their way of play does not subside. Can you understand this?
Thorup: I don’t worry too much about what people think about my work. I try to build a foundation and be successful. Football is about success. The winner is always right. On the other hand, it is about a development. We have developed a defensive stability since winter and yes, we did less offensive. But as a trainer you sometimes have to think pragmatically before the next steps come.

Do you have to take account of Managing Director Michael Ströll and sports director Marinko Jurendic?
Thorup: We look back in regular meetings, but then look primarily at the next games, the events in the club and the situation in the team. Regardless of this, I speak to Marinko every day, Michael is often there. We are always in close exchange.

How is the feedback for you?
Thorup: All topics come on the table. We deal with each other openly, honestly, also critically.

Do you feel unrestricted backing?
Thorup: To be honest, I don’t take care of it right now. I try to keep the focus where it has to be: at my work and the next game.

Your contract runs until summer 2026. Do you see yourself in Augsburg in the long term?
Thorup: My family and I feel very comfortable in Augsburg. We are on the right track and have built a foundation. I have the feeling that we can still achieve a lot with the FCA. I don’t think about the morning or what happens when the results are bad. But I also know: something can happen quickly in football – in both directions.

Success makes them interesting as a trainer. What do you do if FC Bayern wants you as a successor to Vincent Kompany?
Thorup: When a team is successful, agents and clubs come into contact. Above all, they look for players, but also for trainers. I have a consultant who takes care of such things in the background. I focus on my daily work.

You speak to it. Matsima, Claude-Maurice or Giannoulis have become interesting for other clubs. Do you fear the next change in the squad?
Thorup: No, I have no fears. Rumors are the result of good performances. We have further developed players and increased market values. My hope is that we can keep the foundation, build on the next season and take the next step.

How much say do you have for transfers?
Thorup: We exchange ideas every day. If the club wants to sell a player, I can have little influence. An association always has to think economically. Of course, I get involved in the event of new obligations. But there are also financial limits here.

Where does your team need reinforcements?
Thorup: We are always on the road and have a shadow team in our heads. However, I will not talk about individual positions because this makes the existing players think. We are discussing a lot about which players we want to hold and fetch. Always with a view to what options we have as a club.

Equales such as bankers, Kömür or Koudossou were recently less used. What are you missing?
Thorup: I was a U21 national coach. I like working with young players. Noakhai, Mert and Henri got their missions. But there are no gifts. While their teammates have been professional for ten years, they are there for the first year. As a trainer, you don’t look at age, but when the right time is to use it. Integping more young players is one goal. But we also need results. When we bring a young player to the professionals per season, it is a success as a club. Now we have pulled up three within one and a half years.

After relegation, they could give young players more chance, right?
Thorup: After relegation, we won’t sit back, we still have goals. I will try to put the best possible team on the pitch. Noakhai, Mert or Henri compete with other players.

Fredrik Jensen is about to switch to the USA, Arne Maier is closed. It would be obvious that Mert Kömür against Frankfurt is in the starting eleven.
Thorup: Mert came in against Bochum and did the winning goal. He has the momentum on his side. I will decide whether he plays from the start or the team will help the team more if they are substituted.

With 1.45 points per league game, you currently have the best cut of an FCA trainer in the Bundesliga. How difficult is it to confirm this success next season?
Thorup: I don’t think so. We have made a few records and will end the season with the third best points of the FCA Bundesliga history. Now the focus is on the last five games, after which we will evaluate and explore the possibilities for the new season. Nobody can yet know where we end up.