Now things are getting very tight for Steffen Baumgart (51)!
Cologne loses the basement clash at Union 0-2 – and the air is getting thinner and thinner for coach Baumgart!
After the horror autumn round, the bosses demanded at least one point in the relegation clash. But Baumgart loses – and he runs out of arguments for the discussion with the bosses at the end of the year! Or is he throwing himself now?
At the press conference after the Union bankruptcy, Baumgart questions himself. Is he already indicating his end?
At the Volland show, Union-Juwel meets with an open shoe
Source: Image December 20, 2023
Baumgart about his situation: “It is clear that we question everything. Also the coach, it’s clear that we’re thinking about everything. That definitely won’t be announced this evening.”
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The Cologne coach is asked whether he believes that he and the coaching team can lead the team out of the situation.
Baumgart: “I think we should first take all the emotions away. If we look at the pure performance, then I think – yes. When we see the results of the last few weeks, it is clear that there are discussions. They’re part of it.”
Sports boss Christian Keller (45) supported his coach for a long time, but recently the support crumbled. Keller before the game: “It is essential that we get points.” That means: at least a draw, ideally a win!
But HE of all people is sending Cologne even deeper into the crisis: Benedict Hollerbach (22). He reached an agreement with Cologne in the summer, but because the FC transfers were in limbo due to a possible ban by the CAS sports court, Hollerbach quickly decided on Union!
The receipt in the 56th minute: Volland breaks through on the left and finds Hollerbach in the penalty area. He lets Martel get out and puts the ball under the crossbar from an acute angle – 1-0!
Benedict Hollerbach scored to make it 1-0 for Union and followed superstar Cristiano Ronaldo’s example when celebrating
Photo: ANNEGRET HILSE/REUTERS
Particularly bitter: Cologne is more dangerous until they go behind and still has better opportunities in a game at a moderate level.
Cologne’s double chance before the break: Huseinbasic fails from 16 meters to Rönnow, and Thielmann also can’t get past the Union goalkeeper (43′)!
Only a brief rebellion from the Union team: Schäfer is played in the penalty area, but puts the ball too far forward – Schwäbe is there! At half time the goal shooting ratio was 11 to 4 for Cologne!
The decision was made by the most unsuccessful shooter of the season so far!
78th minute: Following an assist from Volland, Fofana appears on the right of the penalty area and slams the ball into the net from an acute angle – 2-0! Only Fofana’s 25th shot on goal ended up in the goal – the worst in the league. A positive thing about this from the Union’s point of view: For the first time this season, the Eisernen keep a clean sheet.
And on the other side, Baumgart is now running out of arguments! After 16 match days, Cologne only have 10 points, the second weakest interim balance in their Bundesliga history (FC was only weaker in 2017/18)!
The players still believe in Baumgart. Goalkeeper Schwäbe (28) at Sky: “We fully support the coach. We know what we have in him. It’s not his fault.” Attacker Selke (28): “Steffen Baumgart and his team gave us an outstanding attitude, the way we performed in the first half.”
But Baumgart himself no longer seems to be entirely convinced…
2023-12-20 20:40:10
#Bundesliga #Union #Cologne #Baumgart #threatened #elimination #questions #Sports
