Just before the end of the first half of the season, 1. FC Köln jumped into promotion for the first time. Now FC has to prove that it is made for pressure.
The Christmas party of 1. FC Köln on Monday evening took place under a good star. The billy goats had to wait 16 match days, but just before the holidays the Cologne team is in a promotion place in the 2nd Bundesliga for the first time this season. FC is on a roll, eight unbeaten competitive games in a row – including seven wins – are no longer a coincidence, but rather proof of a consistency that was hardly thought possible.
This astonishing development after the severe crisis at the end of October could not have been foreseen, but almost two months later a performance like that against Nuremberg on Sunday is no longer surprising. The FC has stabilized, is now showing outstanding moments of play again and is no longer completely thrown off course by conceding a goal. The learning curve is steeply upwards.
There are reasons for success. Gerhard Struber’s switch to a three-man chain, Tim Lemperle as top scorer and Damion Downs as his successful deputy, but also the defensive power of Eric Martel and the remarkable strength of Dominique Heintz, who is experiencing his second spring at FC. The team can now also absorb isolated failures, whether in defense or offense.
This is how FC marches through the league and has fought its way up from twelfth place to second place. However, this means that the role of the billy goats is changing for the first time this season. So far, the Struber team has always been the favorite because the billy goats started the game as relegated teams. But now the team will go into the game as the hunted in the table for the first time on the next match day.
From the hunter to the hunted: FC is now in its dream role and is where it wants to be at the end of the season. But the direct promotion position is also a new challenge. Because the billy goats want and have to defend this place from now on and expand their lead over the competition as much as possible. While the expectations of FC were already high, they are now increasing. Because whoever is in second place after 16 match days also wants to do so after 34 match days.
Struber and his players now have to show that they can deal with this changed situation. The challenge on Sunday at the end of the year could hardly be greater. The Betzenberg will be on fire at 1. FC Kaiserslautern, FCK was in second place in the table a week ago. The billy goats will be able to prove themselves straight away. If they succeed, nothing would stand in the way of an exuberant Christmas after the Christmas party.