1. FC Cologne is not only in crisis, but also has to put up with public criticism. However, this is not a problem for coach Timo Schultz.
In times of crisis, people who supposedly know better often come forward. 1. FC Cologne is not immune to this these days. And as if Timo Schultz didn’t have a hard enough time being second to last in the table, there is currently criticism from all sides.
Steffen Baumgart’s successor is the least responsible for the current situation, which leaves little hope of improvement due to FIFA’s transfer ban. But the new coach doesn’t have to find a solution to the sporting misery (only eleven points and eleven goals after 18 match days), but at the same time also has to moderate the harsh words of numerous supposed experts.
Podolski, Heldt, Daum: A lot of criticism for FC
Former player and FC icon Lukas Podolski recently described the performance of his hometown club as “lifeless and discouraged”. Sky expert Lothar Matthäus went even further and said: “I see black for Cologne”. Christoph Daum was also extremely critical recently and former sports director Horst Heldt described the club’s path in the Bundesliga as “uncompetitive”.
But how does Schultz deal with the concentrated negativity? While Steffen Baumgart never missed a chance to counter the numerous expert opinions during his time as FC coach, Schultz sees the situation in a very relaxed manner. “That’s completely okay,” said the East Frisian regarding the public criticism and added matter-of-factly: “That’s their job.”
Schultz is not a fan of the theory of illness
While the experts criticize the club’s decisions after the games, Schultz would be in favor of “making the decisions beforehand and not judging everything that went wrong.” Otherwise, Schultz would probably have chosen another line of work. “Then I would have gone into pathology, which is how I became a football coach.”
As is well known, pathology refers to the study and research of diseases. Schultz, on the other hand, prefers to focus on the process of recovery. “We know our issues and are working on them. That’s the only thing I can influence,” said the football teacher. The public criticism, even if there is “a lot of truth” in it, “should not provide any additional motivation” for him as a coach. You also have to learn to filter what is simply said in order to polarize.
Against VfL Wolfsburg, Timo Schultz will have his next opportunity to get his first win as a coach in the Bundesliga and for 1. FC Köln on Saturday. Then the FC can give the answer to the numerous expert opinions on the pitch. In the event of a victory, the many critics would probably fall silent.