Thorup and Tietz rage after Augsburg bellyflop: "Abysmal and catastrophic."

After FC Augsburg demolished promoted sides 1. FC Heidenheim and SV Darmstadt 98 last season, many expected a lopsided victory for Jess Thorup's Fuggerstädter in Saturday's league fixture against Holstein Kiel. Instead, after Kiel humiliated their Bavarian Swabian guests with a 5-1 victory, it was the FCA actors who sounded more like demoralized Darmstadt on Saturday afternoon. 

"That was abysmal from us," Augsburg striker, and former Darmstadt professional Philipp Tietz raged into the Sky microphone. "There's not much more to add to that. I'm at a loss for words."

"A catastrophic performance from us," Tietz nevertheless continued. "That wasn't worthy of the top division. That was nothing. "No need for me to talk about our match-plan, because no one will believe we had one."

"We were motivated and thought we could pull it off," Tietz went on to say. "I feel stupid saying that because you didn't see that on the pitch." 

Despite today's result, Augsburg will spend the winter break in 13th place in the Bundesliga table, six points above the relegation playoff place and eight points removed from the second direct relegation slot. Trainer Jess Thorup still didn't find himself in the mood to separate his team from the relegation fight. 

"We're one hundred percent in the relegation race now," Thorup said in his own post-match interview. "Every point counts now. Come January, we'll be fighting for our survival."