1. FC Cologne
As under Baumgart: FC believes in itself again
25.08.2025 – 3:39 p.m.Reading time: 2 min.
Perfect start in the Bundesliga season: The 1. FC Köln shows a quality on matchday 1, which coach Lukas Kwasniok describes as a vital survival.
When Lukas Kwasniok took over the rudder at the Geißbockheim as a new coach seven weeks ago, the 44-year-old made no secret of a demand: he expected every training to be high in every training session and every game. “This is the only chance to survive in the Bundesliga.”
He got this quality seven weeks later. Only in the DFB Cup game a week ago when his team converted a 0-1 in added time into a 2-1 win. And now for the Bundesliga start at the 1st FSV Mainz 05 when FC initially scored the winning goal in the 90th minute and then tortured itself through 13 minutes of stoppage time.
There was still a lot in the Argen with the “billy goats” in terms of play. But after the big upheaval in summer, it is no surprise that Kwasniok still needs time with his new troop to automate processes. Six out of eleven players in the starting eleven were newcomers, a total of eleven out of 20 players in the squad are new to the team. Cologne helps that FC was able to win the first two competitive games of the season.
You remember the first season under Steffen Baumgart: The emotional trainer had taken over FC after the almost relegated 2021. In the DFB Cup, the team had to go over the penalty shootout in Jena at the time before giving a 3-1 win against Hertha BSC at home in the Bundesliga at home. Two victories that gave the “billy goats” so much faith in their own strength that Baumgart could lead FC directly to Europe.
Every thought of Europe would now be completely measured four years later. As a climber, FC is all about relegation. But now starting with two emotional last minute victories can give an equally great belief in your own strength as in 2021.
After two games, Kwasniok’s players have shown their trainer that they can meet exactly the quality that is important for survival in the Bundesliga. If the FC maintains this intensity in future games and can also develop in a playful way, Cologne can succeed in a positive season.