1. FC Köln: squad smaller before training camp? Andersson there

Copyright: Eduard Bopp

Steffen Baumgart (here on July 13, 2021) has not yet made a decision on how many FC professionals to take with him to Donaueschingen.

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Will 1. FC Köln reduce its XXL squad before the training camp in Donaueschingen? There are enough wobbly candidates, head coach Steffen Baumgart keeps all options open.

Cologne. The second week of preparation at Geißbockheim is underway and there is still a lot of activity in FC training. Cologne’s XXL squad has shrunk a bit due to injuries and the departure of Ismail Jakobs (21, AS Monaco), but it’s still big – too big! Coach Steffen Baumgart (49) looks carefully before deciding who to take to the training camp in Donaueschingen.

As of now, there would be 29 field players and four goalkeepers with whom 1. FC Köln would travel to the Black Forest on Friday morning – where the ten-day summer camp heralds the hot preparation phase for the new Bundesliga season.

Steffen Baumgart: Nobody has to stay at home yet

So far, Steffen Baumgart has kept the door open for everyone. “I haven’t had anyone yet where I say, ‘He has to stay at home.’ I think the guys work well and it works well in the big group at the moment, ”the FC coach praised his professionals.

Copyright: Eduard Bopp

At 1. FC Köln there is still a lot of activity on the training ground, as here on July 13, 2021.

But the Baumgart casting has long been in full swing – with such a huge squad there is no place to be wasted! The players know that too. “Accordingly, a lot of guys offer themselves to come along,” says Cologne’s head coach.

There are enough shaky candidates who have to fight for their FC future. Above all loan returnees like Vincent Koziello (25), Niklas Hauptmann (25) and Kingsley Schindler (28).

Baumgart on possible people staying at home: “We’ll sort that out internally in peace. We talk every day about what it might look like. We don’t have a specific number, we’ll take a look. ”For the pros, that means: keep going full throttle!

Sebastian Andersson in the training camp of 1. FC Cologne

There is still a double shift on Wednesday, followed by the last training session on Thursday in Cologne – before it continues on Friday afternoon, as in previous years, on the grounds of SV Aasen in Donaueschingen.

While Ellyes Skhiri (26), Ondrej Duda (26) and Louis Schaub (26) are the last professionals to return from vacation, Jannes Horn (24), Georg Strauch (20), Sava Cestic (20) and Justin Diehl have to return (16) four players who were scheduled for the camp, drop out due to injury. It goes without saying that FC had actually imagined their squad downsizing differently.

It is certain that Sebastian Andersson (29) will travel to the training camp despite his knee problems. The Swede was able to complete parts of the team training for the first time last Friday, but on Tuesday an individual unit was on the program for him again.

Copyright: Herbert Bucco

Sebastian Andersson (here on July 11, 2021) currently trains mostly individually at 1. FC Köln.

“We work from day to day. He was on the pitch last week, that looked good. We’ll make sure that we integrate him more and more, ”announced Baumgart.

The FC coach does not want to give a prognosis as to when Andersson will be able to train fully with the team again – but he is cautiously optimistic: “First of all, the knee will look better, I can say that. Sebastian can go to the training camp as normal. We will then see everything else there. ”So the attacker has his place already safe …

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