Cologne's misery puts the spotlight on two teenagers
The separation from coach Steffen Baumgart opens up the opportunity for 1. FC Köln's greatest talent to move up to the professional team. Justin Diehl is present at the first training session of the new year, as is Jaka Cuber Potocnik, whose signing presents the Billy Goats with major challenges.
The rain poured down on the Geißbockheim, a cold wind swept across the training pitch, Steffen Baumgart was long gone - and a new head coach has not yet been appointed. The start of the year at 1. FC Köln had a rather bleak note, and yet there was a little hope mixed in here and there. "I assume that a decision will be made in the course of the next few days," said sporting director Christian Keller, referring to the appointment of a new coach for the team second last in the table. And: "There will be an external solution."
So no one from the club's own stable, no one who knows Cologne's young talent particularly well - and that will also be important over the next twelve months. This winter and next summer, FC are not allowed to sign any new players - this ban has been official for almost two weeks. If you looked closely, you could see many very young faces in the constant rain in Cologne, including two particularly interesting ones: striker Jaka Potocnik trained with the professionals for the first time and his name has long been a household name in Cologne. The transfer of the now 18-year-old two years ago triggered the transfer ban.
There has also been movement in an issue that has been simmering for months: Justin Diehl, undoubtedly Cologne's greatest talent since the painful loss of Florian Wirtz to Bayer Leverkusen, was also on the pitch with the professionals at the kick-off. The 19-year-old had stubbornly refused to extend his contract, which was due to expire in the summer, after 13 years in the club's youth departments. He then played and trained with the Cologne U21s and is the top scorer in the Regionalliga West.
He will not be a "firefighter"
The club had "used the time between the years to seek an exchange with him and his family, we cleared up a few things, and that's why he's on the pitch," said Keller: "He decides where that leads." According to information from "Kicker", VfB Stuttgart are intensively courting Diehl.
However, the winger could be available to the new head coach at FC, which has been so weak offensively so far, at least in the second half of the season. Numerous names are being bandied about, but it will almost certainly not be a classic "firefighter".
According to media reports, Keller's "assessment center" is being run by rather unknown candidates, with German Matthias Kohler (most recently FC Volendam) and Swiss Thomas Stamm (SC Freiburg II) also being discussed. The Austrian Christian Ilzer (Sturm Graz) and the Dane Bo Henriksen (FC Zurich) would also be new to the Bundesliga. Resolution to come in a few days. "There are many, many names involved, I don't want to comment on any of them individually," said Keller.
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In the midst of their relegation battle, the absence of coach Steffen Baumgart presents an opportunity for Justin Diehl, Cologne's top talent, to make his move to the professional team. Amidst the cold weather and unfamiliar coaching staff, the soccer league battle continues for 1. FC Köln.
With the new coach yet to be appointed and the club facing a transfer ban, it's crucial for the team's young hopes, like Justin Diehl and Jaka Potocnik, to shine in this Soccer relegation battle.
Source: www.ntv.de
