Freiburg (AP) – Anthony Modeste knew exactly where he wanted to go. The Frenchman formed glasses with both hands, put them on his face to celebrate the goal, and ran straight to the bench of 1. FC Köln and into the arms of his coach Steffen Baumgart.
For a brief moment, two guys in the Dreisamstadion of SC Freiburg, between whom it obviously fits.
The 33-year-old’s second football spring is symbolic of the amazing development of FC under Baumgart: After the messed up preseason, the storm oldie was already written off, but Modeste has not only found the ex-attacker since the 1-1 before 10,000 Spectators in the Breisgau are increasingly returning to their old strength.
“Then he has the quality”
“With Toni we know that if we get him in the closing act, then he has the quality,” said Baumgart. And because FC has regularly brought him into these situations this season, Modeste has already scored three goals after four matchdays – three more than in the previous season. Modeste scored all hits by head, which explains Baumgarts’ simple, but also working recipe to a certain extent.
It is known: The 49-year-old relies on courage, offensive pressing and constant readiness to attack, with which he infected Modeste and the entire team. Baumgart also attaches great importance to targeted attacks via the outside lanes. Again and again in Freiburg, the flanks sailed into the SC penalty area in search of Modeste or strike partner Sebastian Andersson. Because FC doesn’t have sprinters, but tall athletes in the storm.
Modeste upswing under Baumgart
This is exactly how Modeste made it 1-0 (34th minute), who lurked as usual in the penalty area and headed a sharp cross from the again strong full-back Benno Schmitz into the goal. “I’m assuming that he also thanked Benno Schmitz because that wasn’t Benno’s first cross to come in,” said Baumgart, who gave another reason for his striker’s upswing.
“He has been able to take part in a complete preparation for a long time and has not been absent from any training session. That is why he is in good physical condition.” This is one of the reasons why the FC has seven points after four match days, which means the club’s best start to the season since 2016/17, when Cologne finally finished fifth. Only the late own goal by defender Rafael Czichos (89th) prevented an even better start. Nevertheless, Baumgart was ultimately satisfied. Because not only Modeste but the whole team had won over again.
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