GERMANY-INGOLSTADT Promoted Ingolstadt warms up for first season in the Bundesliga

Record ID: 145271

  • Title: GERMANY-INGOLSTADT Promoted Ingolstadt warms up for first season in the Bundesliga
  • Date: 3rd August 2015
  • Summary: INGOLSTADT, GERMANY (AUGUST 2, 2015) (REUTERS) INGOLSTADT CITY HALL BUILDING INGOLSTADT POSTCARDS ON DISPLAY PEOPLE WALKING DOWNTOWN PEOPLE WALKING BY FC INGOLSTADT FAN SHOP AUDI SPORTPARK STADIUM VARIOUS OF INGOLSTADT PLAYERS WARMING UP VARIOUS OF INGOLSTADT COACH RALPH HASENHUTTL AT TRAINING (SOUNDBITE) (German) INGOLSTADT COACH, RALPH HASENHUTTL, SAYING: "All the survey
  • Embargoed: 18th August 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Germany
  • Country: Germany
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA6QNEXP5CV9PB63D30RZTDC2HI
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: With the Bundesliga in sight, little-known German side Ingolstadt passed a last test this weekend with a 1-1 draw against Al Wahda before their debut in the German championship.
    The Bavarians secured their first promotion to the Bundesliga in May after beating RB Leipzig 2-1 in what has been the biggest achievement in their short 11-year history.
    Now, they hope to live up to expectations and show their best when the Bundesliga kicks off on August 14.
    Coach Ralph Hasenhuettl said they were aware it would be no easy task.
    "All the surveys show us to be the most likely to be relegated. But that isn't a bad thing because it doesn't matter what other people think about us, only what we think about ourselves. And I think we know what we can do and that we will be in a position to make things difficult for other teams. Maybe we can even cause a surprise upset. At the end of the day you have to get 34, 35, 36 points to stay in. It doesn't really matter to me who we win these points against, but in any case it is going to be a difficult task," he told Reuters.
    The 'Schanzer', which means 'The Trenchmen', play Mainz in their debut match on August 15 but will have to wait for almost a month for their first big clash against Wolfsburg.
    Forward Lukas Hinterseer hopes his shooting skills will lead his teams to many triumphs.
    "My personal aim is simply to play as many times as I can in the league. Of course, scoring goals is always good for your self-confidence as a striker, and it helps the team as well. And like we said, in terms of a direct goal, I think it's obvious we want to stay in the league. The first year is always difficult. Every year we see teams that have come up get caught and go straight back down. We don't want to belong to that list. We want to make sure we stay in, but we will have to wait and see exactly what placing we get. We are simply going to do our best to try and stay in," he said.
    "We basically want to make things difficult for all our opponents, but obviously matches against Bayern, Dortmund, Schalke are high on the agenda. We're all really looking forward to playing in these huge stadiums in front of so many fans, and we are also looking forward to the return matches at home against Dortmund or playing away at Mainz. All footballers look forward to these matches, but especially us," captain Marvin Matip added.
    Backed by car maker Audi and officially the youngest club in the professional leagues after being formed in 2004, Ingolstadt won their first promotion to the second tier in 2009.
    They were relegated the season after but went straight back up in May.
    Now, excited fans are sure Ingolstadt can become a rival to bigger and teams in the Bundesliga.
    "I think it's wonderful because I have been a fan since last year, since the last season - they play so well, the boys really earned their place in the first league. I'm thrilled," Bianca Reidinger told Reuters after watching the match.
    "I think we could get a big win against the other teams, if they are having a bad day. It is not as though we can't win. We have a strong team, they play well together," fellow fan Gerhard Zimmerer said.
    Al Wahda coach Javier Aguirre, who joined the Saudi team after his contract with the Japanese national team was annulled due to investigations into match-fixing allegations in Spain, said he had been surprised by the team's performance.
    "I am really impressed about this team. Really. It's a first-class team for sure. I'm just watching the facilities and also a lot of players, very good players and, well, I think today I don't know if we deserved the result, the tie, but they played very well. It's a good team and I hope all the best for Ingolstadt," he said.
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