News blog about 1. FC Cologne
Kwasniok relies on “young badgers” in the training camp
Updated on January 3, 2026 – 5:17 p.mReading time: 9 minutes
1. FC Köln is playing first class again this season. In the news blog on t-online you will find all the important news about the Geißbockheim.
Luke Kwasniok must be in the training camp 1. FC Cologne Foregoing new players for the time being, but still hopes for a breath of fresh air. “The football world is so fast-moving. If you want to bring in energy, you can only do it through new arrivals or through young players,” says Kwasniok in La Nucia, Spain, where he relies on the Cologne talents Mikolaj Marutzki, Yannick Mausehund, Cenny Neumann, Fynn Schenten and Bernie Lennemann, who are part of the training camp squad.
“We have five young badgers with us,” smiles Kwasniok and gives the young players a clear mandate: The youngsters are there “to tickle and challenge the established players again.” The FC coach wants to heat up the competition: “The boys then have to fight for their place again. It’s a completely natural process that I’m looking forward to.”
The 1st FC Cologne is looking for reinforcements for its defense center. According to the British daily newspaper “The Telegraph”, the billy goats have their eye on Jahmai Simpson-Pusey. The 20-year-old central defender is currently on loan from Manchester City to Celtic Glasgow.
Simpson-Pusey was only used once for the Scots in the first half of the season. Therefore, City is now apparently aiming to break off the loan in order to then loan out his defensive talent again. In addition to Cologne, Racing Strasbourg and English second division teams are also said to be signaling interest. In Manchester, Simpson-Pusey made six professional appearances under star coach Pep Guardiola.
Thursday, January 1, 2026
On Friday, 1. FC Köln travels to the winter training camp in La Nucia. The sought-after new signing for central defense will not initially be on board on the Spanish Costa Blanca near Alicante, but five talents from the youth teams can present themselves: goalkeeper Mikolaj Marutzki, central defender Yannick Mausehund, right-back Cenny Neumann and the strikers Fynn Schenten and Bernie Lennemann.
What is particularly surprising is the nomination of Lennemann, who, unlike the other youngsters, has not yet played a role with the professionals. However, the 22-year-old attacker was in impressive form before Christmas and scored four times in three regional league games for the Cologne U21s.
Joel Schmied, who has been out since the end of November due to a thigh injury, is also part of the traveling team, but is still missing from the pitch. The central defender has suffered a setback and will not be available for the start of the new Bundesliga year. Schmied will continue his rehabilitation program in Spain.