1. FC Köln has to prepare for the game against Borussia Dortmund under difficult conditions. The snow chaos also has the Bundesliga club firmly in its grip.
On Wednesday, 1. FC Cologne had to postpone its training session scheduled for 3 p.m. Since heavy snowfall had already been announced for the morning, the FC started its unit at 12.30 p.m. The meteorologists were right: Despite early training, the Cologne professionals stood on the pitch on an increasingly dense blanket of snow and with balls glowing orange.
Less than 24 hours later, Cologne, which otherwise had little snow, was transformed into a winter landscape. And this continues to affect 1. FC Köln in its preparation for the next home game against Borussia Dortmund. “It’s great weather for children and families to go for walks and tobogganing. But for us footballers it’s not quite as good,” said Timo Schultz on Thursday at 11 a.m. at the matchday press conference.
FC is looking for a snow-free training ground
There the coach answered questions about the upcoming Dortmund clash. The 46-year-old was initially unable to answer where he would train with his team at lunchtime. “That’s a good question,” said the coach, but made it clear straight away: “We will definitely train today.”
During Thursday it became clear that the session would take place as planned in the Rheinenergiestadion. Schultz previously pointed out that the recently laid turf should not be damaged too badly two days before the Bundesliga game.
The game is probably not in the balance
The FC is not expecting the game to be canceled two days in advance. Currently, not all streets in Cologne have been cleared again. However, no further snowfall is forecast for the time being, so access roads should be clear for fans by Saturday.
“I don’t see the game in danger, but let’s wait and see,” said licensing department head Thomas Kessler. There has also been no information from the city of Cologne that has reached Geißbockheim that the game could be on the brink.
“When I drove to Geißbockheim today, the roads were of course still difficult to drive on,” said Kessler, “but normally that happens very quickly in Cologne. I saw a lot of clearance vehicles busy working.” In the afternoon, 1. FC Cologne wants to work again. In which place – that is still unclear.