Cologne – BVB: Baumgart admits that Modeste’s loss is still noticeable

Dhe “Anthony Modeste Roasting” can still be purchased in Cologne. The coffee is also still in the range in the online shop of the grocery chain, which also acts as the main sponsor of 1.FC Köln: the cathedral, the Rhine, the Hohenzollern Bridge and Modeste in the FC jersey can be seen on the package – like him forms glasses out of his index fingers and thumbs.

It’s the typical gesture with which Modeste celebrates his goals. The 34-year-old Frenchman scored 69 goals in 144 Bundesliga games for Cologne, and twice he made a significant contribution to the club qualifying for European competition. But Modeste was more than just a striker in Cologne. He was a cult figure. If he returns to his old place of work this Saturday (3:30 p.m., in the WELT sports ticker), he is threatened with whistles and boos. For the first time since his surprising departure eight weeks ago, Modeste will arrive at the Cologne stadium in a Borussia Dortmund shirt.

“I’m happy to see Tony and Salih Özcan again,” said Steffen Baumgart. Özcan (24), a highly talented midfielder, had also switched to BVB. “I hope that nobody will forget that the lads have done a lot for FC and I hope that they will be greeted appropriately,” said the Cologne coach.

1. FC Köln lost only one of seven games

With Baumgart saying so, there is at least some hope that things won’t get too bad. Because the fans listen to him. The 50-year-old stands for a development that was initiated last season – at that time thanks to active support from Modeste and Öczan – and led to entry into the Conference League. And which continues just as promisingly in the new season despite the well-known departures. Only one of seven games was lost. Cologne seems to be aiming for a place in the top third again.

“What Steffen has built is sensational,” said Edin Terzic. The BVB coach could become the leader of the table if he wins. But that will be difficult, says Terzic. Baumgart not only “stabilized” the team, but made it play “all-in football” regardless of its composition: everyone fights and runs for everyone. In addition, the Cologne team play extremely offensively, although they are of a much lower quality than most top teams. Only Bayern have a higher percentage of ball possession on average. “Steffen always manages to make players better, to create a lot of self-confidence,” says Terzic: Belief in yourself – that’s the greatest strength of the Rhinelanders.

In fact, alongside Union Berlin and SC Freiburg, Cologne are the most homogeneous team in the league. There are hardly any downward performance swings, even if regulars like Jonas Hector or Ellyes Skhiri have to pause because of the large number of games. Despite not inconsiderable quality differences in the squad, Baumgart often rotates and will continue to do so: The game against BVB marks the start of a block with eight games in the Bundesliga and four in the Conference League within just six weeks. “If I have a broad squad and trust him, I have to show that as a coach,” he said. He doesn’t whine.

With this attitude, he is worth his weight in gold for the club, which is not financially on a bed of roses. “I have to develop Bundesliga players, I can’t buy any,” explains Baumgart – analogous to the club’s policy, which is primarily dictated by a consistent austerity course. Despite sales of EUR 148.4 million, another loss (EUR 15.7 million) had to be announced for the 2021/22 financial year. The corona pandemic will cost the club a total of around 85 million euros. The FC remain “a financial restructuring case. The debt burden is very high, equity is almost exhausted,” said CFO Philipp Türoff. The FC press 66 million liabilities.

With Modeste, the top earner disappeared from the payroll

It was also the economic problems that made it necessary to sell Öczan and Modeste. As a result, a transfer fee of just over ten million euros could be collected, and Modeste, the top earner, also disappeared from the payroll. The Cologne team had already tried to sell the aging goalscorer last winter.

Against this background, expressions of dissatisfaction with the Frenchman would be out of place – even if, Baumgart concedes, the loss of the goalscorer is still noticeable. “In one situation or another we will certainly miss Tony, but we have Steffen Tigges and Florian Dietz who work a lot,” he said. The two attackers are typical of the concept that Baumgart is pursuing: Tigges (23) came from BVB for a fee of 1.2 million euros, where he was already able to book a few Bundesliga appearances, but had hardly any prospects. Florian Dietz (23) came from the second team. He has scored one Bundesliga goal so far, Tigges none.

Despite this, the team as a whole is successful. According to Baumgart, success is always “to do with the collective as a whole and not with a single player.” That also applied to last season when Modeste was still from Cologne.

The current development of Modeste also supports this thesis. Things are going well for BVB, but not (yet) for the Frenchman, who has only scored one goal. “Of course you can tell that he’s dissatisfied with the goals scored,” said Edin Terzic. The coach really wanted the Frenchman after it became known that Sébastien Haller would be out for a long time due to testicular cancer. However, it quickly became apparent that Dortmund’s style of play, which was geared towards combinations, did not suit Modeste.

The team and center forward are currently working on getting closer to each other. “Both sides have to adapt,” says Terzic. As in Cologne, Modeste must be provided with crosses – but also learn to play with his new teammates. It’s not easy for a striker who’s used to trying to score with just one touch. However, progress can be seen in training. “I’m sure it won’t be long now,” Terzic announced the end of the adjustment phase.

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Maybe it will be so far in Cologne of all places. On the 31st matchday of last season, Modeste scored his last goal in his favorite city in a 3-1 win over Arminia Bielefeld (“You don’t forget seven years”). He then caused amazement: while cheering, he presented a pack of “his” coffee and gave it to a fan.