1. FC Köln intends to sacrifice: victory against Leicester

Test game in Graz

FC intends to sacrifice: victory against Leicester

First a moving moment before the kick -off, then a first exclamation mark of 1. FC Köln: FC wins the friendly against Leicester City 3: 1 (2: 1).

It was not just any test game that 1. FC Köln completed on Friday evening at the end of the training camp in Austria. The opponent was Leicester City, the relegation from the English Premier League. But at the center of the Merkur Arena in Graz was a special commemoration before the kick -off.

On June 10, several people were killed at a killing spree at the Federal High High School in Dreierschützengasse. On this occasion, FC and Leicester had agreed to organize the test game as a benefit game in favor of the victims. Both clubs donated 5,000 euros each, a total of 40,000 euros, which were presented before the game.

After a minute’s silence, the sporting part began in front of over 3,000 spectators. And the team of coach Lukas Kwasniok proved that the work of the past few days has borne fruit. The goats not only deservedly won the game 3: 1 through the goals of newcomer Sebastian Sebulonsen, striker Luca Waldschmidt and the native of Graz Florian Kainz. The FC also playfully convinced.

For the first time in this preparation, it was recognized that FC would like to change some elements in a playful way. An orderly game from behind, with quick side shifts, surprising advances about the outside and dangerous interface passes into the top. After FC has been sick for years, the work in the game with the ball now bears the first fruits.

Kwasniok was correspondingly satisfied after the game. “The training camp was worth it. Today we have implemented a lot of what we have trained in the past seven days,” said the new FC coach. “It does something with a team, the team of coaches and the cohesion. It was important to me that people have the feeling that a real team is on the pitch that runs the lungs out of their body.”

So the 44-year-old’s conclusion was significantly better than it was a week ago. Then Kwasniok had agreed to his team. The words had an effect. “We grew together this week,” said the coach. “It is not easy if you still have an unrest in the squad at the beginning because some are not there yet. Now we have been able to use the time very well.”

On Friday evening, the players were able to spend time privately in Graz before going back to Bad Waltersdorf for the last time at night. On Saturday, the FC Tross travels back home, where the next training session is on the plan on Tuesday. “We still have three weeks and will see that we permanently bring this play structure and team unity on the square,” announced Kwasniok. For FC, half -time is now in preparation – and thanks to the good performance against Leicester, the first exclamation mark is set.