1. FC Köln have to cope with two serious failures after the cup defeat in Regensburg against Schalke 04.
Of the FC Schalke starts after the re-ascent on Sunday (5:30 p.m.) at 1. FC Cologne into the new one Bundesliga-Season. The people of Cologne have to cope with two serious failures on Sunday.
Mark Uth and Defense Chief Timo Hubers, who were both injured in the cup defeat in Regensburg, will not make it to kick-off in time. Cologne coach Stephen Baumgart emphasized at the press conference before the game, “We are happy that the season is starting again. Unfortunately, Timo Hübers and Mark Uth will be out injured. Both were intended for the first eleven. But it won’t be enough. Steffen Tigges isn’t ready yet either .”
Baumgart revealed that Luca Kilian will slip into the starting eleven for Hübers, but he has not yet said who will replace Uth, there are “several options” here. It is also open whether Jeff Chabot will defend next to Kilian. The central defender showed a very poor performance in Regensburg. New signing Kristian Pedersen could also slip inside. Jonas Hector should then be the first choice again after his injury on the left back.
Baumgart: “I expect all the players in the squad to want to play. I read a lot of criticism about Jeff after the cup game – we should also talk about that fairness on the web speak.”
Looking at the opponent, the FC coach shows respect: “We have a home game and want to be successful. Schalke may be promoted, but for me they only took a year off. It’s about starting well – in terms of performance , but also in the result.”
Baumgart – as you know him – is very ambitious before a season in which there are only a few real relegation candidates. His announcement: “It’s okay to speculate about a possible place in the table. But I’d like to finish in the top ten. I don’t know if that’ll work. That’s why we want to play attractive and successful football first.”
That’s how they could play
1. FC Cologne: Schwäbe – Schmitz, Kilian, Chabot (Pedersen), Hector – Skhiri – Maina, Ljubicic, Kainz – Modestes, Adamyan
Schalke 04: Schwolow – Brummer, Yoshida, Kaminski, Ouwejan – Krauss, Kral – Drexler, Zalazar, Mohr – Polter
