Steffen Baumgart spoke about the start of the season with 1. FC Köln, the Nations League and the European Cup. An interview that shows why we love the Effzeh coach so much.
Steffen Baumgart as we know him! The Cologne coach demonstratively stands in front of his players. And criticizes a “competition that is not needed”. The 50-year-old doesn’t like the division in the European Cup either.
Effzeh coach Steffen Baumgart is almost revered in Cologne. Because he lets the billy goats play refreshing and offensive football and this courageous approach is garnished with great success. But above all because of his style: emotional and honest!
The 50-year-old is known for not mincing his words. Especially when it comes to his team. “Nothing at all,” replied Baumgart to the question of the table football, which could have gone better this season. With two wins, four draws and one defeat, the Cologne team ranks ninth in the Bundesliga table. In the Conference League there were a good four points from the first two games.
Baumgart introduces himself to his players: “These are my boys”
“It’s going exactly as we imagined. And if someone comes and wants to explain to us what we could have done better, then they’re welcome to take over my job,” added Baumgart. “When I see how the lads march, then I’m satisfied, even with ten points,” said the FC coach.
When his players are criticized, Baumgart quickly becomes a father figure. “There’s often no criticism here. It’s often just people who are attacked here,” said the 50-year-old, citing Ondrej Duda and Sebastian Andersson as examples. “I can see whether someone wants it or not. I’m the first to criticize. But I’m also the only one who’s allowed to criticize them,” said Baumgart. He doesn’t allow “one to attack my family. These are my boys, I mean it like I say it.”
And that is probably an important reason why Baumgart is so well received by fans, the club and its players.
Baumgart criticizes Nations League and European Cup modes
But his clear expressions of opinion on other topics also contribute to this. Baumgart has clear views on the and the mode in the European Cup.
“This competition harms the players, who lose important time to recover. They are not robots. This is a competition that is not needed,” Baumgart said of the Nations League. He has “not yet seen a game in this competition. It doesn’t interest me. I watch how my boys played, but I don’t sit in front of the television.”
His verdict on the European Cup competitions is not much better. Baumgart sees a “dilution” there:
“It should be there for the champions and not for the clubs from one to four. That’s very close to a Super League.”
On the other hand, Baumgart found the old arrangement with the European Cup of National Champions, the UEFA Cup and the European Cup Winners’ Cup “great”.
“Today you’re third in your Champions League group and you go to the Europa League, and whoever comes third goes to the Conference League. You’re kicked out of one competition and you get the red carpet laid out for the next one. I think so a bit difficult for me,” Baumgart concludes.
Everything about 1. FC Köln in 90 minutes
This article was originally published on 90min.com/de as.
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
