- Kessler of Cologne to the second league: must not be allowed to decline
For those responsible at 1. FC Köln, it's clear that the targeted return to the Bundesliga won't be easy. Looking at the opponent in the 2. Liga's opening match, Hamburger SV, Köln's licensing football director, Thomas Kessler, said: "HSV is a good example. But also other traditional clubs that have gone to the 2. Liga in recent years have had a hard time establishing themselves at the top and playing for promotion." Therefore, one must not let up and cannot be satisfied after winning two or three games, Kessler said.
Cologne and Hamburg will kick off the new 2. Bundesliga season on Friday (8:30 PM/Sky and Sat1). The new FC coach, Gerhard Struber, is looking forward to the game in a sold-out stadium: "What more could you want?" Both teams are considered possible favorites for promotion. While Cologne is coming down from the Bundesliga, the Hanseatic League missed out on promotion for the sixth consecutive time last time.
The following is a reminder of the challenges faced by traditional clubs in the 2. Liga, as mentioned by Köln's licensing football director – even those like Hamburger SV, who are considered rivals for the top spot in the upcoming season. The following is added to the team's strategy: maintaining relentless determination and avoiding complacency, even after initial victories, to ensure a successful return to the Bundesliga.
