After Carnival is before Werder: This is how FC coach Timo Schultz looks back on his first session – and looking forward to the next game against Bremen.
As is well known, 1. FC Cologne is not in international business this season; Timo Schultz was 16th at the beginning of his tenure with the Bundesliga. Nevertheless, a double burden that should not be underestimated has to be mastered: relegation battle and carnival. “This is a special time of year,” the coach concluded on Ash Wednesday.
The FC meeting and participation in the Rose Monday procession were “two fantastic experiences” for him, “which I had not taken into account before when I started here.” On Tuesday evening, the carnival caught up with the 46-year-old again in his apartment in the Belgian Quarter. “I thought it was all over,” says Schultz, “but suddenly I heard everyone screaming and bawling from below because the Nubbel had been burned for all their sins.” He adds with a smile: “I also threw a few into the pile.”
FC made “very, very good use of the carnival time in terms of sport”
There have been plenty of sporting sins in FC’s season so far. But under Schultz, the relegation candidate has stabilized in terms of points. One win, three draws and one defeat mean tenth place in the form table. In the real, current ranking, the “billy goats” have at least gained a four-point cushion over the direct relegation places.
“What was most important to me,” says Schultz when he talks about the carnival days: “We used the time really, really well in terms of sport and got points. Then it will be more fun for the fans to celebrate carnival. That was my main focus and would remain so next year.” The coach now has to talk about the future in the subjunctive, the relegation battle still takes months and the East Frisian does not have a contract for the 2nd Bundesliga. However, in the event of relegation, which he and everyone responsible assumes, his working paper should be automatically extended.
The next hurdle on the way to rescue is Werder Bremen on Friday evening. In the form table just mentioned, the Hanseatic League are third behind Borussia Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen. Werder started the year 2024 with a draw and three wins (including a 1-0 at FC Bayern) before it suffered a setback last Saturday – on the club’s 125th birthday of all days – when Bremen lost 2-1 to Heidenheim in the Weserstadion.
Werder Bremen as a “little role model” for 1. FC Cologne
“Werder has found itself. This is a structure that has grown together, that has developed in the first half of the season and is now scoring points. For us, this can perhaps even be a small role model. If you remain stable, if you believe in yourself, If you work on your topics and bring continuity to the pitch, you can also start a small series,” explains Schultz and notes: “Against Heidenheim, we also found out, it’s not a sure-fire success. Accordingly, you can also play against Heidenheim at home they look bad.” FC won at least one point against the strong newcomers on the debut of their new coach.
Three against Bremen would be an important step towards staying in the league – and would also increase Schultz’s chances of a second carnival session as FC coach. “I didn’t have much time to enjoy it,” he says of its premiere in the last few days and therefore hopes “that we can prepare for it longer next year and that I’ll already be an old hand with a certain amount of carnival experience.”