Until he was substituted, Salih Özcan was the strongest Cologne player on the field. The midfielder dominated the duels (87%), prepared the 1-0 with a strong run over the right side and ran into many spaces as eighth alongside Elvis Rexhbecaj. Then he injured his thigh and FC got into trouble. But now there was the all-clear for the 22-year-old. This is all the more important as 1. FC Köln’s own generation is preparing to make Jonas Hector forget in the center.
Cologne – At 1. FC Köln they want to extend with Salih Özcan sooner rather than later. The 22-year-old’s contract expires in the summer of 2021, and with every good game the central midfielder plays, the interest of other clubs in the billy goat muscle, which is getting better and better in the Bundesliga, grows. Against VfL Wolfsburg, Özcan showed what he has to offer not only physically but also in terms of football. Robust duels, clever runs, an eye for the teammates: Özcan, as one of the two eighth in Markus Gisdol’s new formation, is doing very well.
Position on double eight ideal for Özcan
No wonder, after all, Özcan already fulfilled this role as one of two aft with Holstein Kiel during his one-year loan. Now the 22-year-old is preparing to take the development step at FC that those in charge and above all the players themselves had hoped for. Özcan returned to FC in the summer to assert himself in the Bundesliga. At first he still had problems, especially when moving backwards. However, he showed strong performances against Borussia Dortmund and now against VfL Wolfsburg. Özcan has been in the starting line-up for five games. He’s now paying back the trust.
All the more bitter that Özcan had to leave the field against VfL in the 39th minute. The U21 international had grabbed his right back thigh and indicated to Doc Schäferhoff that the pain had dragged him from his back into his leg. On Sunday, however, the all-clear after an MRI examination. Özcan has no structural injury. Whether he will be able to play again against 1. FSV Mainz 05 remains to be seen. But the midfielder will not be out any longer. In this respect: take a deep breath, both for the player and for FC, because Özcan’s absence was clearly noticeable in the second half.
Can Özcan grow into Hector’s role?
As Özcan replacement, Dominick Drexler was never able to embody the robust style of play that made Özcan so valuable. From then on, Wolfsburg dominated the midfield and the duels, which caused the billy goats to swim badly. Markus Gisdol saw it that way afterwards. “The six and eight have found each other. You can see that Salih is in very good shape, ”said Gisdol. “He did very well until he was substituted. So I hope it’s nothing bigger with Salih. ”This hope was heard, and the positive diagnosis was all the more important as captain Jonas Hector continues to be out for an indefinite period. Until the game against Dortmund, those responsible still complained about the absence of the ex-national player. But now Özcan is beginning to take on this role and to grow into it.
Good performance + relegation = new contract?
It is well known that FC would like to renew with Özcan immediately. The billy goats, however, have the problem that they hardly offer any big leaps financially and that they are not yet able to confirm their membership in the Bundesliga. In this respect, the Cologne team hope that ultimately the combination of Özcan’s good performance and the associated success in the league will not only lead to relegation, but also to an extension of the contract.
