Steffen Baumgart did not reveal what personal message he had given Salih Özcan before the game. But it would hardly be a surprise if it came out that the coach had motivated his midfield policeman with a false report: “Salih, Hansi Flick and Stefan Kuntz are sitting outside in the stands and they are only there because of you.” Yes, it could have been like that. Because Özcan, 24, ran and played Cologne 1-1 (1-1) against Borussia Dortmund on Sunday evening as if he wanted to show the whole world.
Or not. The truth is that Salih Özcan has been playing for months with a high degree of consistency, like a best-of version of himself. He started the season as a substitute at FC, but since he moved into the first eleven in mid-October, he has practically had his place in the center permanently subscribed. At that time nobody was talking about the fact that two football nations could soon be fighting for his services.
Since the U15, Özcan has belonged to all junior national teams of the DFB, 61 appearances are noted, last year he became European champion with the German U21. At that time his DFB coach was called Stefan Kuntz, who now commands the Turkish national team – and Özcan now wants to win as a reinforcement. The origin of the family makes it possible.
National coach Flick has long been on the phone with Cologne coach Baumgart
When the interest of the Turks became known three weeks ago, FC coach Baumgart explained that Özcan should think about it for himself, but also not forget that the DFB, first men’s team department, could also be considered: “We have so many good sixes not that the future in Germany might not also belong to him.”
National coach Hansi Flick was, that much is certain, not in the stadium on Sunday when Özcan presented his rich repertoire as a lone six in an offensive Cologne team against BVB: tackling strength, ball security, playing ability, presence, everything presented at the best level.
But he couldn’t have shown anything new to Flick anyway. He’s been on the phone with Baumgart for a long time and found out more. Özcan, he says, is “absolutely in our sights, we could definitely see him in the team”. A summit meeting between the German and Turkish national coaches at the next Cologne game doesn’t have to be an illusion.