1. FC Cologne
Kwasniok does not want to “drop” this player “
18.09.2025 – 5:20 p.m.Reading time: 3 min.
Linton Maina helped the 1st FC Köln at the ascent, but sits on the bench in the Bundesliga. That could change when playing against RB Leipzig.
If the 1. FC Köln travels to RB Leipzig on Saturday, there will be no direct duel with Max Finkgräfe at least on the lawn. The Cologne own plant, which had won the DFB Cup of the A-Juniors in 2023 and moved to Saxony for four million euros this summer, is injured.
The left -back has contracted a injury on the knee and must first pause. RB announced this on Thursday. Finkgräfe would not have been in the starting eleven anyway, since he was only number two behind international David. But against the FC Finkräfe would have been twice motivated.
The Leipziger’s failure list has grown again. In addition to Finkgräfe, Antonio Nusa (Armbruch), Xaver Schlager (calf injury) and Lukas Klostermann (muscular problems) are missing. But FC also has to do without an important player for the time being. With Rav van den Berg (shoulder surgery) the most expensive summer newcomer is missing.
“It’s quite bitter,” said Lukas Kwasniok on Thursday before the game. “First we have Kili (Luca Kilian, Note d. Red.) lost. Now the second central defender fails with RAV. “At least the FC squad in the position gives enough alternatives, so Kwasniok does not have to bridge a bottleneck.” We have enough classic central defenders and beyond with Tom Krauss, with Sebastian Sebulonen and Eric Martel, other players who can also play in the triangle. “
So Kwasniok already showed that he will probably appear in Leipzig with a three or five chain of five. FC does not want to hide and put in at RB, but the team of coach Ole Werner is the favorite against the promoted from Cologne. Although the “billy goats” have already proven with seven points from the first three games that they don’t have to hide from any team.
It is good that Kwasniok can fall back on all other players and can largely draw from the full in terms of personnel. In the middle of it also a player who had been a guarantee for the climb in the 2nd league, but has not yet been able to play a minute in the Bundesliga for FC: Linton Maina.
Against Wolfsburg last weekend, the outdoor car player did not stand in the squad after being one of the most important FC players in the 2nd Bundesliga with three goals and eleven templates. “He was an important factor last season, but we also played in the 2nd league,” said Kwasniok before the Leipzig game. “Now we’re in the Bundesliga and I want to squeeze out the last bit of him.” He had set himself the goal of wanting to push Maina “to the limit”. That is why he had wanted to irritate him with non-nomination for Wolfsburg.