Augsburg vs Koln preview - Coaches not focused on Europe

Europe was not on the lips of either Augsburg coach Markus Weinzierl or his Cologne counterpart Peter Stoger as they prepare for their showdown this Saturday.

The sixth-placed Bavarians are currently on course for a place in the Europa League, even if they have won only two of their last 11 matches, while Cologne are only five points adrift of seventh which could also be enough for a place in Europe.

However, Stoger insists it is Augsburg and not they who are thinking about Europe with only one thing on his mind with seven points separating Cologne from the bottom three.

"We want to stay in the Bundesliga and this is the superordinate aim," said the Austrian coach on his club's website.

"If we're able to secure that goal right now, then that is what we want to try to do.

"We need points for survival while Augsburg need points to reach their major goal of the Europa League, so I certainly don't anticipate it being a game in which either side is going to hold back."

Weinzierl does not expect that either, while he hopes his side's fans will also play their part in helping them defend their position inside the top six, even though he did not explicitly mention what that would signify.

"Of course I'm glad we've got a home match again because we're definitely stronger at home," he said.

"The fans are our 12th man and my players certainly want to give them something back for their efforts."

The perfect reward would be the sound of the Europa League anthem next August, but Weinzierl preferred not to use those two taboo words, saying only that "our destiny is in our own hands and we can determine where we will end this season".