The 1st FC Köln is subject to only very thinly against the house-high favorite Bayer 04 Leverkusen in the quarter-finals of the DFB Cup. A explosive Rheinderby that left frustration with the billy goats.
When the emotions had at least a little regulated, Dominique Heintz even got a little smile in the catacombs of the Leverkusen. He was very “proud” on the performance of the Cologne team, even if “the defeat naturally hurts”.
The 2: 3 (0: 1, 2: 2) NV in the quarter -finals of the DFB Cup of 1. FC Köln at Bayer 04 Leverkusen was one of these special games that are actually only available in this competition – and where the adrenaline often sparkles .
An example: “What partly runs around at Leverkusen, with what arrogance, I have to master what I have to say”, The Heintz scolded the ARD immediately after the game. “What they called in, how they presented themselves and how they provoked us in the end“He said shortly afterwards. He thinks it’s a shame “They are German champions and such a good team who don’t need to fall like this after the game and be so arrogant”.
Expression of your own disappointment
In these moments, the Cologne defender was still under the fresh impression that he had become a tragic loser. The underdog from Cologne had severely annoyed the great favorites from Leverkusen even a little man in front of the fact that the Werkelf is a leg.
The hosts needed a trembling last-minute goal, which still provided the extension. The Bundesliga relegated from Cologne brought the Double winner very close to the abyss – only a few seconds, the very last little thrust.
Heintz’s indictment was therefore primarily an expression of his own great disappointment. This enormous drama and the overturning events had badly strained the nervous costume of every player.
Alonso takes the energy to the discussion
In any case, the experienced Bayer coach Xabi Alonso did not even want to get involved in such word battles and clashes, not least because he knows about the emotional chaos that he experiences the athlete like Heintz after such “a bitter defeat” – and then over shoot the goal.
This wafer -thin success of the Leverkusen. The almost infinite number of duels and kilometers that both teams had brought into this game. The Bitteris of the Cologne team over the eight minutes of stoppage time in the second half. A compensation of the FC, which is only by millimeter due to an offside position, shortly before the end of the extension. Of course, all of this left traces.
“It was an intensive game of both. I saw no arrogance with my players. They fought and celebrated. I also saw something, but what happens on the pitch always stays on the pitch”, Alonso said and quickly took the energy to the topic.
On chic and boniface was released
Rather, the 43-year-old turned to sporty topics. The Spaniard seemed to be surprised how few solutions his players have found against the compact but above all with a lot of passionate Cologne.
Top star Florian Wirtz seemed over -motivated against his old youth club, playmaker Granit Xhaka strangely uninspired. “It was certainly not our best game. But how are we happy that we are one round further”, said Alonso. Only on the striker Patrik Schick (2 goals) and Victoer Boniface (1 gate), who were on the field in exceptional cases and because of the goal shortage, was released that evening.
Hübers: “like to do such games again more often”
The FC had found the right remedies for a very long time to steer the opponent’s playful superiority. “We put a very good plan and the boys implemented a lot. That was not Magic but an extreme shoulder within the team”said FC coach Gerhard Struber. In addition, the effectiveness was right in front of the opposing goal. Two shots, two hits. Damion Downs and Linton Maina met for FC for the counterattack. The fact that all of this was not enough for a win was all the more disappointed for the Cologne.
Almost level -headed and with a foresight, Timo Hübers said in the late evening. “Such a game is incentive to be able to play such games more often in the future”, The FC interior defender also said against FC Schalke 04 (from 1.30 p.m. in the live ticker) with a view to the next two-division game next Sunday.
“We should see that we will no longer lose too many places in the table by the end of the season, because you go to games like this with a completely different tension”, “ So Hübers. There was no question of a possible effort after this extremely intensive encounter. Hüber’s gaze turned his gaze solely on the goal.
After the exhausting game on Saturday at VfL Wolfsburg, the Leverkuseners will quickly take up the thread that they had lost in the meantime against the Cologne. Because the goal of the Werkelf remains no less than the title defense in the championship.
