Borussia Dortmund play against FC Augsburg in the Signal Iduna Park on Monday evening (kick-off 20:30 CET) to round off the first "English week" of 2018, and to round off matchday 24 in the Bundesliga.

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Peter Stöger is of course aware of the debate surrounding the playing of matches on Monday evenings, and the Borussia Dortmund manager has of course understanding "for the fact that for many, a Monday night fixture isn't going to be ideal". As a figure of authority within the game, and indeed not as a fan (or away fan), he is naturally of a different opinion regarding the issue. After his team had only made it back to Dortmund at first light on Friday after the match in Bergamo, Stöger saw "how little sleep the boys had managed to get, and from a recovery perspective, I am glad that we don't have to play on Sunday, but on Monday instead. That gives us some time to recover."

Fully charged batteries will be needed to break down a compact and strong team from Augsburg. "They're doing a really good job", said Stöger of the group of players currently in eighth position in the table, also labelling them a "very stable unit". For him then, the European cup tie against Bergamo was good preparation for this important league encounter. There will be little between the teams in terms of quality. Augsburg play compactly, work together cohesively and successfully against the ball (they have conceded fewer goals than Leipzig or Leverkusen and have conceded the third fewest clear-cut chances on goal), and have done really well going forward on the flanks. Put succinctly: cross, header, goal. That's FCA.

"Our main task will be to find a solution by getting the ball down and playing", announced Stöger. Even though results have been of the right sort recently, the manager knows that, "there is still room for improvement. We are still not playing for entire 90 minute spells as we would like to." He believes one reason for that, among others, is the two-and-a-half month winless period against first-class opposition that followed the 2-1 win away at Augsburg: "Autumn was difficult. They really took some blows during that time. They have left their mark. And many players who are returning from injury are still yet to find their rhythm."

For that reason too, Peter Stöger is hoping for the support of the watching public during the untypical and unloved Monday night fixture. "It is an important game for us."
Boris Rupert

BVB total!-Video: The complete press conference with Peter Stöger