Copyright: IMAGO/Beautiful Sports
Steffen Baumgart during the last winter friendly of 1. FC Köln, on Saturday (January 14, 2023) against the Belgian second division club Lommel SK
The Bundesliga season for 1. FC Köln continues next Saturday with a home game against Werder Bremen. This is the winter conclusion of trainer Steffen Baumgart.
If it weren’t for the new injury worries – Steffen Baumgart (51) could hardly be happier ahead of the Bundesliga continuation against Werder Bremen (January 21, 2023, 6:30 p.m.)! The Cologne coach draws a positive winter conclusion. With a warning…
Four test victories without conceding a goal, plus one power unit after the other and with Davie Selke (27) the desired storm reinforcement is on board. FC made the best use of the longest winter break in league history (ten weeks).
Steffen Baumgart before the Bremen game: “We are well prepared”
After the final win against Belgium club Lommel (5-0 on Saturday, January 14), Baumgart is certain: “We are well prepared. A lot of what we want to see fits. Whether it’s the breadth of the squad, the intensity that the boys drive, or the scoring chances.”
However, the FC coach does not want to be blinded by the clear test successes (previously 4-0 against HSV), warning his boys: “We had good results, but we should remain calm – unfortunately that’s not the Bundesliga. Bremen will then be a different category again.”
And directly trend-setting! Cologne (17 points) can close the gap to ninth place (21 points). After that, probably the most difficult task of the season awaits with the trip to FC Bayern.
Baumgart says: “I’m assuming that we’re going to be in full throttle mode right away, and that’s what you have to be to be successful.” What he means: All the batteries in the league should be charged through the XXL break. “The boys will all be fresh. Even those who were at the World Cup.”
Steffen Baumgart renewed criticism: “This whole year is for an ass”
There is no time to slowly ramp up! Precisely because there is an English week on the program (after Bremen and Bayern at Schalke).
Of course, FC knows them well enough from the first half of the season. Baumgart makes no secret of the fact that the hammer game plan (24 games in 106 days) caused by the Winter World Cup is still a thorn in his side – even two months later.
In plain language: “We didn’t have a Bundesliga for ten weeks. I don’t think that’s even available in summer. This whole year sucks. Even if all the experts have said something different. No matter how they want to sell it to us.”
And of all things in Cologne’s European Cup season. Unhappiness in happiness, so to speak. “If I’m angry, I could say that the international competition came in exactly the wrong year for us,” says Baumgart, who prefers to turn the tables: “It was good for the experience we gained.”
Steffen Baumgart wants to go too
attacking 1. FC Köln
His boys should benefit from this in the remaining 19 league matches. Especially since midfield star Dejan Ljubicic (25) is back after a three-month break and many professionals – for example Ondrej Duda (28) – are in much better shape than before the break.
Advertisement: Now voucher for the 1. FC Köln fan shop right here in the EXPRESS voucher portal to back up!
Newcomer Selke also impressed in the Lommel test and should have been rewarded with a goal. “I’ve seen a lot of good offensive actions, not just from Davie,” says Baumgart.
So it’s not surprising that FC fans are looking forward to Bremen’s start – the club could have filled the Rhein-Energie-Stadion twice. The trainer is also on fire: “I’m happy that it’s starting again. To be able to attack.” Means: Get out of the relegation battle quickly!
