“There are far too many people’s opinions that I don’t want to let into my head,” says Steffen Baumgart. Image: Marcus Simaitis
Steffen Baumgart, coach of 1. FC Köln, talks in an interview about football experts who take themselves too seriously, the risk of being fired – and his reasons for not talking about the second division.
Mr. Baumgart, we are meeting a few hours after it became known that Urs Fischer is no longer the coach at Union Berlin. Does that affect you?
I am very connected not only to Union Berlin, but also to Urs Fischer. That’s why it’s something that really touches me and takes me with me.
From a coaching perspective, would you say that Union would probably have gotten back on track with Fischer?
I don’t want to judge right or wrong, I just said that it affects me. I just wish that everyone who is commenting on this now would just be quiet. When Didi Hamann said two weeks ago that it was irresponsible for Union Berlin to stick with this coach, then I think that was an absolute cheek. Why is he allowed to make such a judgment? Believe me, I have more insight into Union Berlin than many people assume and I don’t dare judge the separation.
