After a false start in the 3. Liga, Viktoria Köln has stabilised recently. One of the club’s longest-serving players has played a major part in this: Simon Handle.
At 1.70 metres, Handle is not exactly predestined to score headers. Still, it didn’t stop him from leading his team to a 1-0 win in this manner against Magdeburg a fortnight ago. “Well, it wasn’t that difficult. The cross came perfectly and I didn’t even have to jump up,” “But I’ve actually managed a few headed goals.” Including his debut goal in the 3. Liga in December 2015 with Aue against Großaspach.
“We still have a lot of room for improvement “
The 28-year-old has been lacing up his boots for Viktoria since 2017. He has never experienced a false start like this season before: four of the first five games were lost. But in the cathedral city, they remained calm and were rewarded for it. The club remained unbeaten six times in a row. “We’ve brought in a lot of new players, and you have to give them time. It wasn’t all bad at the beginning, it was the results that were missing,” Handle analyses and emphasises: “We still have a lot of room for improvement.”
But the upswing is also linked to him. Not only because of his five goals in 15 appearances, but also because of his variability. Coach Olaf Janßen calls Handle an “all-purpose weapon” – and plays to this strength accordingly: He has already been used in four different positions this season. “Defending at the back on both sides as a skilled offensive player is definitely a challenge. Especially as a right-footed left defensive player,” admits Handle. “But I accept the task and give my best. The main thing is that we win. “
Profiteer from “wrong foot training “
In the unaccustomed role on the left side of defence, he benefits from his training, in particular the “wrong-foot training” from his youth days at RB Salzburg. “We had to train with the wrong foot on Tuesday mornings. That helped me enormously,” Handle says.
Cologne’s international break will be interrupted next Wednesday by a state cup match against district league team SSV Bornheim. On the following Monday, Viktoria will return to league action. At SV Meppen, Handle and Co. can close the gap to the top third of the table – also with the stronger right foot.
