1. FC Cologne wins the home game against Eintracht Frankfurt again right before Weiberfastnacht. But this time it shouldn’t be the start of a crisis.
A year ago, when Steffen Baumgart was still the untouchable coach of 1. FC Köln, the billy goats won their home game against Eintracht Frankfurt 3-0 on February 12, 2023. It was supposed to be the start of a lavish birthday and carnival celebration. The FC was 75 years old, women’s carnival was coming up, the Laughing FC Arena, the FC meeting, Rose Monday – the FC took it all with them.
But nothing was sporty anymore. This was followed by four defeats in six games, no wins and a goal difference of 1:13. Steffen Baumgart later said: “I don’t want to offend anyone, but after these experiences I have to say: That didn’t do us any good. We definitely have to do things differently in the future.”
Schultz makes expectations clear
A year later, FC won another home game right before Weiberfastnacht, and again the opponent was Eintracht Frankfurt. Now the 2-0 win should not and must not be the start of a new crisis, but rather a race to catch up if the FC wants to avoid relegation. That’s why Baumgart’s successor Timo Schultz made it clear on Saturday evening in the RheinEnergieStadion: “I know that I won’t make many friends here – but I’m not here to celebrate carnival.”
Schultz now wants to start a series with his team, score points in Hoffenheim on Sunday and then also in the next home game after Carnival against Werder Bremen. The session hangover should be prevented at all costs, and so after the game Schultz called his team together again on the pitch and, among other things, explained to them in clear terms the ban on carnival celebrations.
Clear ban on celebrating for FC professionals
“I assume that the players have recognized the seriousness of the situation,” said Schultz at the press conference afterwards. There is no reason to “fall into euphoria” just because you have won a game. This must have been just the beginning. But for this route the FC needs one thing above all: full focus. And that shouldn’t be lost even if there is a state of emergency in the city.
But no one wanted to reveal what exactly the 46-year-old had said to his team afterwards. Not Schultz and not captain Florian Kainz either. The Austrian only confirmed afterwards that the upcoming carnival week “was also an issue”. Schultz gave the players Sunday off. But in the new week the focus will be solely on Hoffenheim, even though the billy goats will have their traditional carnival session on Tuesday evening and the players will be on site.
Kainz confirms: “It’s clearly time to put the brakes on”
“I will certainly enjoy the FC meeting on Tuesday and am looking forward to the time – but I am here to train with the team and also to be able to make the game next Sunday in Hoffenheim successful,” said Schultz, who is also the reason scheduled two training sessions for Tuesday in order to avoid any misunderstandings. The evening event is simply a mandatory event, not a party requirement. “The brakes are clearly called for,” Kainz also confirmed the requirement.
Because one thing is clear: If FC were to reverse the trend and not have a series of defeats but a series of successes compared to last year, the billy goats would be back in the middle of business by spring. The three points against Frankfurt already helped to consolidate the relegation place in the table and at least get a taste of the places higher up in the table. Further victories would be more valuable than any successful carnival party.