Timo Horn and Dejan Ljubicic solved the risky maneuver excellently. The Cologne goalkeeper and the Cologne midfielder had played one-two in their own penalty area and thus frustrated three opponents rushing back and forth in vain, first there was fearful murmur in the stands, then applause for the bold action. Only one of these notorious bad guys had to whistle again, of course, the entire stadium in Cologne-Müngersdorf, 16,500 people, could hear him.
In fact, the author, a certain Steffen Baumgart, could also make himself felt in the bulging Maracanã in Rio de Janeiro; The 1. FC Köln coach is not only able to roar very loudly, but also to whistle louder. The shrill signal has the effect of a police siren on his players. In the case in question, Timo Horn immediately looked at the sergeant in the coaching bench – and received a mixture of praise and a call for order.
Apart from the professionally petty coach, there were not many critical opinions on the performance of FC against Hertha BSC in the Cologne stadium on Sunday evening. After the surprisingly unequivocal 3-1 victory, the team turned a lap of honor, reminiscent of the connoisseurs of the slow food movement. The players took so much time as if they wanted to absorb every single clap with all their senses. Some started a second round after the round was completed.
The game idea of Baumgart’s predecessor Markus Gisdol had always remained a mystery to the Cologne professionals
In addition to the actors, the audience also expressly celebrated the coach. There were even chants during the game, and that is extraordinary – when the new man first came out – even for the Cologne people who tend to be cocky. Presumably, the recognition also expressed the joy that the expectations in Baumgart’s good influence could actually be fulfilled. During the six weeks of preparation, the 49-year-old did not claim or promise with a single syllable that his methods would quickly turn a relegated team into a team of the highest Bundesliga level – but most of the FC supporters, if not all, had it at least secretly expected of him.
The return of Mark Uth was generally welcomed, but in the eyes of the fans, the trainer who had traveled from Paderborn acted as the star purchase. He has also found a sympathizer in the level-headed captain Jonas Hector: “He’s trying to instill a different style of play for us,” he said after the 3-1 win, which he meant as a compliment. The game idea of Baumgart’s predecessor Markus Gisdol remained a mystery to Hector and the Cologne professionals until the very end. Now the squad has remained largely the same, but in terms of play, the appearance was much more colorful than in the previous season.
What Baumgart demands above all is the will and the willingness to be a permanent nuisance to the enemy and rather to seek the attack than to remain in cover. And Hertha BSC was an excellent vehicle to convince the Cologne team of the success of their coach’s teaching. After the early 1-0 win, the Berlin team had a relatively solid control of the game thanks to Stevan Jovetic – then, as their supervisor Pal Dardai noted, they became “casual”. At the latest Anthony Modeste’s compensation ushered in a downfall that no one was able to stop. Kevin-Prince Boateng, placed in the center of the Hertha order and, according to his own exclusive feeling, the central authority of the team, talked, conducted and gestured a lot, but playfully he made little sense. Nevertheless, Dardai’s verdict was mainly directed against attacker Cunha: The coach explicitly complained that he did not take part in defensive work enough on the offensive. The whereabouts of the undoubtedly accomplished Cunha in Berlin is still not certain, allegedly Atlético Madrid are interested in him.
Anthony Modeste has already surpassed his track record for the entire previous season
While Dardai complained a little too extensively about Cunha, Steffen Baumgart was noticeably thrifty when it came to highlighting Anthony Modeste’s performance. Perhaps he would have liked to, there was enough cause, but his commandment clearly states that the team always has priority. “You won’t often hear from me that I talk about individual players after the game,” said Baumgart. Modest’s appearance spoke for itself anyway, not only because he scored a goal and prepared one, which has already exceeded his track record of the entire previous season.
The 33-year-old Frenchman, who was most recently seen as a problematic case because of his enormous annual salary (three million euros each until 2023), surprised the audience with a range of motion that was reminiscent of the great old days. His trainer, who had brought him back from history to the present with targeted support during the preparation for the season, he splashed his water bottle with his thanks – a fun that even Baumgart, who always tried to make grim facial expressions, appreciated. “I forgive him for that,” said the coach with a smile he couldn’t suppress.
Baumgart didn’t want to talk about a successful start, just about a good first game that gives courage for the next. Then it’s off to FC Bayern. “I don’t want to hear that we don’t have to go there,” said the coach, but he doesn’t need to worry in Cologne, which is finally cocky again.