Augsburg publish Pepi's comments after first Bundesliga match
Despite the fact that he literally arrived less than a week ago, the German press seized upon Ricardo Pepi published on FC Augsburg's website following Saturday's loss to Hoffenheim.
Speaking to the Sky microphones afterwards, Pepi's teammates echoed Marcus Weizierl's calls for patience with the American youngster.
Speaking to the Sky microphones afterwards, Pepi's teammates echoed Marcus Weizierl's calls for patience with the American youngster.
| Ricardo Pepi (left). | Photo: FC Augsburg |
"I'm not happy because we lost the game," Pepi is quoted as stating on the club website, "but the opponent was really good. The 30 minutes of action was good for me, so that I could get a feeling for the team and the league."
"The team and everyone made it easy for me come in," Pepi's statement continues, "We will now continue to work over the next three weeks and be prepared for the next few games."
Pretty standard stuff. It nevertheless speaks volumes about how the Fuggerstädter plan to utilize their new €16 million weapon as a promotion tool as well as a goal-scorer that they posted the youngsters comments on the website. It also reveals quite a bit about the German press that they picked it up.
FCA head-coach Marcus Weinzierl sought to diffuse pressure placed on the club's record purchase (also the new most expensive MLS player ever brought to the Bundesliga on Friday by emphasizing "It's not his fault that the prices are so crazy".
Pepi's Germa-speaking n teammates responsible for conducting the German post-match interviews with Sky's German affiliate did have to answer questions about their new teammate. Keeper Rafal Gikiewicz and Florian Niederlechner addressed the topic with the Sky mics afterwards.
"We need to take it easy on him," Niederlechner told his interviewer, "he's 18 years old and has just come here from America. If expectations are too high then it will be too hard for him."
"We support him and believe that he can help us," Niederlechner added.