Köln Faces Borussia Mönchengladbach Derby Without Central Strikers After Double Injury Blow 1. FC Köln head coach René Wagner faces difficult selection decisions ahead of the upcoming derby against Borussia Mönchengladbach on Sunday after losing both main central strikers to severe injuries during a test match against Viktoria Köln.
Thijs Dallinga suffered a torn cruciate ligament that threatens to end his season prematurely, while Ragnar Ache is set to miss several weeks due to a muscular injury. Wagner acknowledged the setback but emphasized the depth of his squad. Das werde ich natürlich nicht verraten können. Das bleibt bis dahin ein Geheimnis,
the coach said regarding his tactical setup. He added: Wir haben einen breiten Kader. Wir haben Jungs dazugeholt, die für solche Momente da sind.
Marius Bülter Leads Attack Against Gladbach
With the central striking position depleted, Marius Bülter emerges as the primary candidate to lead the attack against Gladbach. Additional attacking options include national player Said El Mala, who returned with pride and confidence following initial appearances for the national team under new impulses from Bundestrainer Jürgen Klopp. Wagner also noted past formations featuring El Mala in the front line and mentioned Imad Rondic as a potential option for the squad’s final minutes.
Defensive Adjustments and Pressure on the Coach
Aside from the offensive crisis, the team faces defensive adjustments as right-back Alessio Castro-Montes trains individually following a muscular injury sustained against Hamburg and remains doubtful for Sunday. Sebastian Sebulonsen is prepared to step into the starting backline after recovering from his own muscular issue and logging playing time in the test match.
Wagner enters the fixture under pressure following a start yielding four points from four matches, alongside external discussions surrounding his position after previous results against Werder Bremen and Hamburg. Ich nehme das wahr, es ist auch gerade relativ schwer, das nicht zu tun,
Wagner stated, maintaining focus on his primary objective. Aber wenn ich mich davon beeinflussen lassen würde, würde es meinen Job schwieriger machen, daher muss ich mich davon lösen.
