1. FC Köln is stuck in a relegation battle. Some want a breath of fresh air through the use of young talent – like Justin Diehl. But coach Steffen Baumgart holds others responsible.
“It’s a relegation battle with six or seven teams, a very tight snail race that will remain one.” This is the forecast from Steffen Baumgart, coach of 1. FC Köln. Who and his club are behind in the snail race because FC is at the bottom of the table.
There are great concerns, especially offensively. Cologne scores too few goals, there are only nine in the statistics, not even half as many goals as in the previous season after twelve games (20). And only once did FC score more than one goal in a game – in the 3-1 derby triumph against Gladbach, their only win of the season.
Goalscoring talent Diehl is languishing in the regional league
When FC visits promoted team Darmstadt on Friday (December 1, 2023, 8:30 p.m.), solutions in the attacking third are mandatory in this “snail race relegation battle” against their direct competitor in order to make progress. Some fans are calling for talented striker Justin Diehl, who is the best shooter in the league in the U21 in the Regionalliga West with eleven goals (17 appearances). He will play with the second representative against Fortuna Cologne on Friday.
It is practically impossible that Diehl, whose contract with FC expires in the summer of 2024, could play for the professionals again after his two short appearances last season. The U20 national player wants to leave the club; the 19-year-old and his agent Roger Wittmann do not see his future at the Müngersdorf sports park.
In the summer, FC decided against giving a place in the professional squad to a talent who cannot imagine a future in Cologne. “We also have other talented players. We work with those who want to work with us,” explained sports director Christian Keller at the time.
Baumgart criticizes the rejection by Diehl’s party
Coach Steffen Baumgart saw the situation this way at the press conference before the Darmstadt game: “I always have the impression that you have the feeling that we are the party that closed the door. We didn’t close anything at all.” The coach asked, “Why do I have to apologize for not including him?”
Justin Diehl, offensive talent of 1. FC Köln, carries the ball.
The 51-year-old emphasized: “I believe that we have given him more than enough opportunities to train with us. And there is a clear statement that he no longer wants to work with us next year.” He asks himself: “Why doesn’t he want to work in his hometown, in the club where he grew up, or become a Bundesliga player? If you have this standing – and he has a very, very good standing with us: why lean you from us?”
FC coach rules out Diehl’s winter departure
Baumgart would like to train the talent to become a professional, “but not for six months.” The head coach could only imagine this if Diehl committed to FC: “We would like to continue working with him. You have to allow that. And allowing it doesn’t mean that you will work with me as a guest for six months.”
A premature separation in winter is still out of the question. Diehl’s transfer discussions with other parties will only be legally possible without FC from January. And Diehl could help the U21s get promoted to the 3rd league with his goals.
Baumgart doesn’t want to put a lot of pressure on talent
But in everyday life in the Bundesliga, the goal is to avoid relegation. And in this situation, Baumgart emphasized many weeks ago in the “Geissblog”, the experienced must lead the way: “We shouldn’t grab the smallest straws, but those that are a little thicker. If we now have hope for 19-year-old A- Young people, it will be difficult.”
Nothing changed about that. In the press conference in front of Darmstadt, Baumgart expressly praised the young talents “Max Finkgräfe, Damion Downs, Meiko Waschenbach, who clearly say that their home is in this location, in this club.”
But they are called to be patient. Left-back Finkgräfe has made four substitutions so far, striker Downs has made three even shorter appearances, neither of them has been on the field in the last five games. And Waschenbach is part of the regional league squad – in which Diehl also plays.
