The 1. FC Köln presented a new head coach with Lukas Kwasniok. He was in a good mood during his presentation and commented on many topics: goals, young people, squad – and the Rhenish rival Mönchengladbach.
“First of all, we want the tanker in calm waters in the Bundesliga Leading, “said Kwasniok with regard to the goals with the 1. FC Köln. The 44-year-old naturally meant the early relegation that stands for the promoted. When he was asked about a possible dream of Europe with Cologne, the new coach posted an answer by at least one year.
Sports director Kessler: “Lukas fits completely here”
Sports director Thomas Kessler, who also took part in the press conference, said to the commitment of the new head coach: “We have been watching him in Saarbrücken since his time and of course in Paderborn. It quickly became clear in the conversations that it fits here professionally and humanly.”
Kwasniok is already the second former Paderborn coach who is moving to Cologne. A comparison with former FC coach Steffen Baumgart, the new coach weighed off. Of course there are some parallels, but differences can be seen, especially when it comes to team leadership and soccer ideas. “There was a Baumi 1.0 and now a Luki 1.0.” Under Baumgart, Cologne even reached the Europa League, but then relegated when Baumgart was still largely on the sidelines.
Game idea variable, squad not yet completely
Kessler was particularly important about the game idea, which is supposed to rule under Kwasniok, and one thing was important to him: “play variably”. In any case, this word from Kessler was repeatedly heard. “Of course, we have certain ideas together with Lukas about the game ideas. But whether the chain of three or chain is a minor matter,” said Kessler. One has to be aware that Cologne will act as an outsider, at least in almost all away games.
Kwasniok and Kessler also commented on the squad in detail: “The team has the potential to create relegation.” Nevertheless, the new coach made it clear that the team could still change. You work in a “moving train”. Neither Kessler nor Kwasniok commented on concrete names. The sports director only reported: “We are currently in good conversations with one or the other player.”
Trainer wants to promote young players
The sports director explained to possible contract extensions of service providers such as Eric Martel, Damion Downs or Jan Thielmann: “The first good conversations have run, but at the moment all boys concentrate on their respective tournaments. This is also understandable and we are extremely proud of them.”
As far as the composition of the squad is concerned, much remained unclear. Kwasniok also commented on the youth in relation to the U19, which is currently German champion: “If players, regardless of age, have quality, I will not prevent them from showing them on the pitch.”
Kwasniok: “Before Gladbach would be nice”
And then it became emotional after a lot of professional and objectivity – just as you like in Cologne. Kwasniok was asked if he would ride at carnival or what he had already noticed from Cologne. “So I won’t drive, I will probably not be able to be able,” he said with a smile. But Cologne is emotion and feeling: “At some point I would like to be remembered as a ‘Kölscher Jung’.”
As if that wasn’t Kölsch enough, there was another sentence at Kwasniok, which is probably very well received by all FC fans and caused great smacking in the room: “We don’t need to talk about the table, but it would probably be nice if we could land in front of Gladbach.”
