After having to cancel in September and October due to colds, Jan Thielmann is now set to make his debut in the U-21 national team. On Wednesday, the Cologne attacker spoke about Steffen Baumgart, his season so far, favourite positions and goals with FC and the DFB selection.
On the one hand, he is only 19 years old and still eligible to play for the oldest DFB junior selection after the upcoming U-21 European Championship in 2023. However, as Thielmann already has 44 Bundesliga appearances to his name (two goals), he is already one of the more experienced players in coach Antonio Di Salvo’s team, despite his first participation in an U-21 course. On Friday against Poland and on Tuesday against San Marino he will have the chance to make his debut.
“Especially against Poland it will be a difficult game in which the opponent can act on eye level. Of course, I hope I get the chance to play a few minutes and maybe give my first assist or score my first goal,” says Thielmann and knows the common target: “We all expect to get two more wins in the last two games and thus start 2022 with peace of mind. “
Assist against Hertha – Preferably on the wing
Thielmann has made a promising start to the Bundesliga season with a place in the first eleven and an assist in the 3-1 win over Hertha BSC: “I was in the starting eleven for the first few games, but then I was ill, which set me back a bit. Now I’m back to a good fitness level, so the coach can rely on me. I’m still very happy with my appearances, so it can happily continue like this.” So far, the man with the number 29 has played ten competitive games, seven of them from the start.
And where does he prefer to play? “I see myself on the right or on the left on a wing position, whether it’s a bit more offensive or more defensive, it doesn’t matter. That’s where I feel most comfortable, although I also feel at home in the forward line and on the ten,” says Thielmann. In the 0:2 defeat in Dortmund a good week and a half ago, coach Steffen Baumgart brought him in at left front.
Baumgart is not pretending
Baumgart is the man who stands for the positive turnaround at 1. FC Köln like no other. “I have a good relationship with the coach,” says Thielmann, confirming the good impression Baumgart makes in public from an internal perspective: “He doesn’t pretend at all during games or public appearances. He is, as the press portrays him, an asset, a good mood maker and currently also a calming influence for us when things get hectic. He is portrayed positively in the media, and I can only agree with that.”
Under Baumgart, Thielmann also wants to take further steps forward: “I’d like to establish myself further at the club and become a regular player at some point, that’s the goal of everyone in the team.” And what is in it for FC as a team this season? “We definitely don’t want to have anything to do with relegation. What goes up will then become apparent. For now, it’s about making the next games positive and getting three points again. That would be very helpful,” says Thielmann ahead of the upcoming league opponents Mainz.
