1. FC Cologne
Who is pushing into the starting XI, for whom it will be difficult for
14.08.2025 – 6:00 a.m.Reading time: 3 min.
The 1. FC Köln is before the start of the season. These are the most important teachings from preparation with the new head coach Lukas Kwasniok
Slowly but surely it applies to the 1. FC Köln. Six weeks of preparation are coming to an end, on Sunday afternoon (3:30 p.m.) the first competitive game is waiting for the new coach Lukas Kwasniok and his team with the cup start at SSV Jahn Regensburg. Five victories from six test games, most recently the strong 4: 0 against Champions League participant Atalanta Bergamo, suggest: the “billy goats” are ready for the Bundesliga. These are the teachings of preparation.
Newcomers push into the starting eleven: The people of Cologne missed a new face to the team this summer. After the descent, the transfer lock had prevented the necessary upheaval, now sports director Thomas Kessler has already signed ten players. In addition, there is the shooting star Said el Mala, which was last awarded to Viktoria Köln.
The preparation has shown that the majority of these entrances push into the starting eleven. In the dress rehearsal against Atalanta Bergamo (4: 0), six of the new ones in Lukas Kwasniok’s initial formation, especially Jakub Kaminski, Isak Johannesson and Sebastian Sebulonen, should not be able to pass. The FC coach has succeeded in integrating the obligated players at a hurry.
Kwasniok does not want regular places: But if you once made it in Kwasniok’s eleven, you shouldn’t be sure. Because the Cologne coach wants to abolish the regular places, as he recently announced: “There will be no permanent rage, but only a starting eleven that changes as needed and the personal constitution of individual players.” Kwasniok obviously doesn’t think of the famous football wisdom “Never Change A Winning Team”.
These are the “gamuchangers”: The trainer was prepared in preparation for a 3-4-3 system, which he had often played at his previous Paderborn station. A central role plays a central role in this. For Kwasniok, the actors who pry the left and right rail are “the gamuchanger”, as he called during a unit in the training camp in Bad Waltersdorf.
“They can sneak in anywhere and make most goals,” said the 44-year-old that his rail players have to bring a lot of offensive urge and be allowed to move flexibly. The test games were right for him, the wingers, such as Sebastian Sebulonsen and Linton Maina, were always involved in gates.
Promotion heroes have a hard time: The good impression of the new additions should make some professionals more difficult to maintain time with FC last season. Florian Kainz, Denis Huseinbasic, Learst Pacarada, Dominique Heintz, Jusuf Gazibegovic – they are probably not a first choice at the moment.
Important last-minute decision: Anyone who leads FC as captain in the new season is still open. In the six test games, another player always wore the bandage. Most recently, in the dress rehearsal against Atalanta Bergamo, it was a new addition Marius Bülter. In addition to the previous captain Timo Hüber, the candidates, whose replacement is considered likely, are especially Marvin Schwäbe, Eric Martel and Jan Thielmann.