Timo Schultz’s first starting eleven was younger than all of Steffen Baumgart’s formations. Two youngsters in particular are taking center stage at 1. FC Köln.
The closer the final whistle came, the younger 1. FC Köln became. When new coach Timo Schultz made his debut against 1. FC Heidenheim (1:1), the average age fell to 22.9 years in the final phase. The “billy goats” played with the youngest team since the 2020/21 season, when homegrown players such as Jan Thielmann, Ismail Jakobs, Noah Katterbach and Sava Cestic took their first professional steps under Markus Gisdol.
Against Heidenheim, Schultz first substituted Justin Diehl and later Faride Alidou and Steffen Tigges for the more experienced Florian Kainz, Linton Maina and Davie Selke. But at 25.1 years old, his starting eleven already had a lower average age than all 98 starting lineups that predecessor Steffen Baumgart had fielded in his two and a half seasons at FC.
After bad luck with injuries: even more focus on youngsters
Due to the transfer ban and the weeks-long absences of Luca Waldschmidt, Mark Uth and Davie Selke, it is the youngsters who are giving new hope to the second-to-last team in the table, who delivered the second weakest first half of the season in the club’s history with eleven points and eleven goals.
Jan Thielmann, who is now in his fifth professional season, is already one of the more established boys, just like U21 national team captain Eric Martel. In addition, the performance of 22-year-old Denis Huseinbasic, the starter from the previous season, is stabilizing. The two 19-year-olds Max Finkgräfe and Justin Diehl are now applying for this role.
Finkgräfe started against Heidenheim for the third time in a row, Joker Diehl collected his first Bundesliga minutes since February 2023. The winger was only promoted back to the professional squad from the U21 during the winter break. Nothing has changed about his intention to leave his training club after his contract ends next summer – but FC, which is threatened with relegation, needs Diehl’s qualities now.
Will Diehl move to VfB Stuttgart?
At the end of the first half of the season, the Cologne home-grown player was not only the first joker, but promptly shot all the standards. “He doesn’t lack self-confidence,” commented coach Timo Schultz and then praised: “He’s a boy who is fun, always wants the ball, always goes one-on-one. Justin has potential, he can help us “It will definitely help the second half of the season.”
After that, it seems, he will leave FC after 13 years – even if those responsible in Cologne leave no stone unturned to change Diehl’s mind. VfB Stuttgart is in talks with the offensive jewel and seems to have far better cards, attracting, among other things, the chance of international business.
Sports director Christian Keller assessed the prospect of a contract extension at FC as “not too high” at the members’ regulars’ meeting last week. However, according to reports, there is no truth to the speculation that Diehl’s free transfer to the Swabians could be announced this week. FC still has a remaining chance. Sporting director Fabian Wohlgemuth recently told the “Stuttgarter Nachrichten” that Diehl “currently plays no role” in VfB’s plans. The emphasis should be on “current”, now in winter.
Schultz praises Finkgräfe
There is far less excitement around another top talent from Cologne, who is perhaps even further along in his development than Diehl: left-back Finkgräfe has won a regular place and appears surprisingly mature for his age and noticeably often makes the right decisions. “He played a really good game at the back left, always found the moments to move forward and was still stable in defense,” praised Schultz.
Finkgräfe and Diehl are two glimmers of hope in Cologne’s overall bleak prospects before the start of the second half of the season against Borussia Dortmund on Saturday afternoon. “That will be our way in the next few months to develop these boys,” said Schultz after his FC debut, adding: “Developing means giving them playing time and trust.” There is currently no alternative to this route anyway.