In any case, without offensive player Jan Thielmann, 1. FC Köln will open the 7th matchday of this season on Friday. Due to a stomach and intestinal infection, Thielmann has to give up the game against Greuther Fürth. In contrast, Tim Lemperle may return to the squad.
Still pondering his offensive in the game against Fürth: Cologne coach Steffen Baumgart.
imago images/Eduard Bopp
How he will approach the task against the Franks, Baumgart reveals with the answer to the question about the offensive line-up: “I want them all on the field,” says the coach, referring to Anthony Modeste, Sebastian Andersson and last Mark Uth, who came into the game late in Frankfurt and who the coach attests to “a high quality finish”. That looks like it is full, especially since with Florian Kainz and possibly Ondrej Duda even more offensive players can count on their nomination.
Meré in the starting line-up
While he is still thinking about the offensive, a decision has already been made at the back: “Jorge Meré will play,” revealed the coach on Wednesday. “I made it clear to him that he deserved it.” The decision for the Spaniard may also be related to the fact that he has a larger football repertoire than the competitors Luca Kilian and Timo Hübers. Accordingly, he can also support the establishment via the center. Because Baumgart is expecting one thing from the opponent: “They will try to narrow the spaces in the middle, but above all they run aggressively at the front.” Situations that, depending on the current situation, Mere can solve football better than his colleagues.
“The Youth League is a highlight for the whole club”
Today from 6 p.m. Baumgart – like the entire FC – is putting in an extra shift. Together with around 4,000 fans, they support the billy goats under 19 in the Youth League game against their favorite KRC Genk from Belgium: “The Youth League is a highlight for the whole club,” says Baumgart, “we are all looking forward to the game in front of a big crowd. I expect a nice game that I’ll have a lot of fun with. ”
