With VfL Wolfsburg, 1. FC Köln and his new head coach Britta Carlson are expecting a difficult task at the start of the year.
It is the first home game of the 1st FC Köln in 2025 and the Bundesliga debut for Britta Carlson as head coach. After the past match day at SGS Essen was canceled due to the frozen soil, the really big challenge is now about: on Friday evening Cologne will receive VfL Wolfsburg (from 6.30 p.m. in the live ticker at Sportschau.de).
In the fight against relegation, the SGS Essen would certainly have been the easier task for Carlson’s debut. But the 46-year-old takes it sporty: “I am really looking forward to the first home game, but I am not so important to me who can be done. “ Especially with the Wolfsburgers, many well -known faces are waiting for them.
Carlson long assistant coach in Wolfsburg
Carlson has been the new head coach in Cologne since the beginning of the year and replaces Jacqueline Dünker as an interim trainer after having separated from Daniel Weber at the end of November. Dünker takes on the role of the assistant coach. For Carlson it is the first stop as head coach in the Bundesliga. For ten years, the former international, who won bronze at Olympics in 2004, was active as an assistant coach at VfL Wolfsburg.
Carlson also worked for the DFB for several years. From June 2018 until the winning of the 2024 Olympic bronze medal in 2024, she worked as an assistant coach of the DFB women. In the meantime, she had taken over the national team as an interim trainer.
Carlson not only knows the game of the wolf but also one or two face on the part of the Wolfsburg women. “The time at VfL is associated with beautiful memories and I still know a lot of people there “says Carlson before meeting her ex-club. “I was on Monday at the game of VfL Wolfsburg against Jena. You also wished me good luck in Cologne – except for Friday evening “she says and laughs.
Cologne does not want to hide against Wolfsburg
However, she may need a little luck, because the challenge is a big one. “The Wolfsburgers play with a lot of possession of the ball, are variable in their game, have quick tips and appear dominant”Carlson summarizes the strengths of the upcoming opponent, for whom she played in the 2007/2008 season.
Nevertheless, we don’t want to hide on Friday and bring our strengths into the game. As an outsider, we still want to score. “
Carlson has had time since the beginning of the year to find her new team in Cologne. In her first test game in the winter break, Carlson was able to win a 2-1 win against VfL Bochum, the second game was then clearly lost with 1: 7 against Eintracht Frankfurt. For Carlson a sign that there is still a lot of work to do with 1. FC Köln.
Britta Carlson was the co-trainer of the DFB women for six years.
New head coach relies on internal Competition
Instead of such games, the 46-year-old prefers to press aggressively and push high ball winnings. In order to include your team, she relies on a stronger internal competition. With the two new additions – goalkeeper Aurora Mikalsen and striker Amélie Delabre – this has happened. The regular places are more competitive and the players have to work even more on themselves. The Austrian Nicole Billa, who increased the otherwise weak attack by Cologne at the beginning of the season, will also play an important role in this internal struggle.
Against Wolfsburg, the new head coach with Sara Agrez still has to do without a strong central defender, since the 24-year-old-also a former Wolfsburg native-is still in rehab after a foot injury. In the goal, newcomer Mikalsen becomes its Bundesliga premiere.
Carlson: “Cologne is crazy about football”
Whether Essen or Wolfsburg: Carlson is looking forward to the football phrase that she has got to know in Cologne in the past few weeks. “Cologne is crazy about football, the FC is something special and the women completely integrated.” For the game against Bayern Munich (March 9, 2 p.m.), more than 15,000 tickers have already been sold in the Cologne stadium. A highlight for the Cologne women. For the Friday evening against VfL Wolfsburg, on the other hand, only around 2,000 spectators are expected, but they will certainly ensure the right mood at the start of the year.