Steffen Baumgart went on the offensive as a striker. “We’re calling out Europe, let’s go!” Said the coach of Bundesliga soccer club 1. FC Köln before the explosive derby at Borussia Mönchengladbach on Saturday (6:30 p.m. / Sky).
So far, the ex-attacker had held back in terms of international ambitions and let the FC fans dream alone: ”That’s me, sometimes there are new sounds, but not that we cry afterwards because it didn’t work out.”
Because the first Bundesliga champion can no longer be relegated with 43 points after 29 match days, the Rhinelanders are now focusing on the European Cup in the last five games of the season.
“If no one has opened the keg yet: Of course we want to get as high as possible this season. Of course I would like to play internationally next season. We would like to make this dream come true for the fans,” said Baumgart, verbally leaning on it out of the window.
The 3:2 against Mainz after a 0:2 deficit showed once again that the Cologne side can still pull games out of the fire this season even with their backs to the wall. The FC coach is therefore not afraid of the reinvigorated Borussia, who have taken ten points from the last four games: “They want to win, but we want that too! The intensity will be high.”
And Baumgart also spoke about his personal future. “My future definitely lies with 1. FC Köln because I still have a year’s contract,” joked the Rostock native. There have not yet been any concrete talks about extending the contract, but “there is no reason to be concerned”.
The fact that both fan camps will be at the derby in Borussia Park is an additional motivation for Baumgart: “I have a grin on my face when the stadium is full.” Rivalry is fine, but this is carried out by the teams on the pitch, “there should simply be a good atmosphere in the stands”.