Steffen Baumgart is confident about the second half of the season. (Photo: Bucco)
Four games, four wins, four clean sheets – 1. FC Köln put in a superb preparation for the winter, although the opponents in the friendly cannot be classified at Bundesliga level. A different caliber awaits at the start of the competitive game on Saturday with Werder Bremen.
Despite the 5-0 win in the last friendly against Belgian second division club Lommel SK, coach Steffen Baumgart could have been in a better mood. That was less due to the performance of his team and more to the fact that two defenders, Luca Kilian and Kristian Pedersen, were injured – both were diagnosed with muscle injuries, which is why FC will be missing them in the coming weeks.
When asked about the successful preparation of his team, the coach was clearly happier. In all four games without conceding a goal and scoring 19 goals – a decent record. In fact, there could have been more goals, especially against Lommel. “We had really good chances to score,” said Baumgart after the success in the Franz Kremer Stadium, but complained about the lack of handling of the chances. “One or two more could have gone in.”
Selke goalless – Baumgart still satisfied
Davie Selke couldn’t change anything about that when he made his first appearance in an FC jersey. The striker signed by Hertha BSC missed a few good chances in the first half – but the boss still praised him: “Davie did what he was supposed to do. It doesn’t happen overnight, but he got the situations,” Baumgart analyzed Selke’s first 45 minutes in the FC jersey.
On Saturday evening (6:30 p.m.) the 27-year-old has the opportunity to do better – against his old love Werder Bremen of all things. The newly promoted team is playing a strong first series, has four points more than FC and is ninth after 15 games. Then it will become clear how stable the FC defense really is. On the other hand, there will hardly be as many chances against Ole Werner’s team as against Lommel. “That wasn’t Bundesliga,” Baumgart also knows how to classify the test kick against the overwhelmed Belgians and makes it clear: Against Bremen “something else is coming our way.”
We are well prepared
Stephen Baumgart
After three Bundesliga defeats in a row before the long World Cup break, a home win against the strong Bremen side would be important for FC, also with a view to the table. The lead over relegation rank 16 is only three points. A threesome at the start of the Bundesliga year 2023? “We are well prepared,” Baumgart is convinced.
