The coach of 1. FC Köln, who is certainly not known for exaggerated pathos, can also be different. “Family “ and “Home “ were two keywords that came spontaneously to Steffen Baumgart’s lips on Friday when he was asked about the values of FC Union Berlin
This club is more than a competitor or an opponent for Baumgart. He makes no secret of this: “I’ve been following Union since I started playing there. I make no secret of how I feel about the club.”
He also makes no secret of what his old love – for whom he scored from 2002 to 2004 – expects on Sunday: “I want to get three points with FC.” He is aware how difficult this will be: “It will be a close game that will be decided by little things. But our football in front of 50,000 fans should go forward and we want to create scoring chances – even against an opponent who usually allows little.” Furthermore – Baumgart also points out – his former club has “good switch players” who are also able to “finish a situation dangerously when outnumbered.” Which means: A team is expected that defends and switches equally well, so: “We have to find solutions.
The two top players Modeste and Andersson are to be reckoned with, behind them Uth could initiate the attacks that result from the expected increase in possession. A double six in front of the back four is possible – in order to keep the centre tight during the Berliners’ switching actions – as well as two aggressive attackers on the sides in Kainz and Thielmann.
Unprecedented negative series against Union
The aim on Sunday is also to end an unprecedented negative streak: only against Union Berlin have there been four consecutive defeats in FC’s Bundesliga history. And while the Cologne team kept moving towards the bottom of the table, the fellow promoted team established itself in record time. This is also thanks to colleague Urs Fischer, who Baumgart considers “one of the best coaches in the Bundesliga”: “He has a clear approach and is good with the boys. Everyone is waiting for the break-in, but it doesn’t come. I appreciate and respect him. “
