Bayern München loanee midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg has been impressed with what he's seen so far in his new surrounds at Bavarian neighbours FC Augsburg (© Imago)
Bayern München loanee midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg has been impressed with what he's seen so far in his new surrounds at Bavarian neighbours FC Augsburg (© Imago)

Humble Augsburg all part of the learning curve for Höjbjerg

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Augsburg - Having spent the last two-and-a-half years honing his craft at FC Bayern München, it's only natural that should share the 23-time Bundesliga champions' insatiable appetite for success.

Reining in expectations

The midfield whizz recently moved out on loan to regional neighbours FC Augsburg, but not before putting pen to paper on a new three-year contract extension that will keep him at the Allianz Arena until 30 June 2018.

"I'm 19, maybe a bit naive, a bit stupid, but my expectations and ambitions right now, for the coach, for FC Bayern were a bit too high," Höjbjerg admitted in a candid interview with Germany's largest specialist sports magazine Kicker. "That was my mistake. That's why I've moved to Augsburg to pursue them."

In making the switch to the Fuggerstädter, the Denmark international joins a side built on modest means and tempered expectations. Augsburg have only been knocking around at Germany's top table since 2011 and, despite finishing eighth last term and going into the current winter break in sixth place, the Bavarians remain unanimously defiant that beating the drop is all that marks their domestic agenda.

Here to learn


"The team, the club all stand together," Höjbjerg said of his temporary employers. "It's great to be here and to be a part of it. Now I see why they're having so much success and have won six of their eight home games. I'm going to learn so much here."

The young Dane experienced the power of the Augsburg collective first hand in Thursday's 1-0 friendly win over Turkish first division outfit Gaziantepspor in Belek. The debutant's zeal for the game could not be faulted, with head coach Markus Weinzierl later talking up the Bayern loanee's "massive future".

'I want to be the best in the world'


Höjbjerg has become accustomed to such commendation down the years, having long been hailed in some quarters as heir apparent to a certain Bastian Schweinsteiger. Despite the obvious similarities, the 2011 under-17 Danish Player of the Year nevertheless prefers to channel his energy into his own weighty aspirations.

"There's nothing I want more than to see out [my contract] at Bayern," he explained. "I also want to be the best player in the world. Chances of that happening are slim. Probably no one can reach the level of [Lionel] Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo, but I'll give it everything to get as close to that as possible. I have to set the bar high."

Christopher Mayer-Lodge