With Davie Selke, 1. FC Köln have signed a target player for the opposing penalty area. Coach Steffen Baumgart can use him on flanks again – and uses very traditional means to do so.
Steffen Baumgart thought of a surprise for his players on his 51st birthday. The coach of 1. FC Köln had his team practice on Thursday (January 5th, 2023) on a training device that had actually been out of fashion for a long time – but which should now ensure that the team gets back on the road to success.
With header pendulum back to header strength
The Cologne players practiced aerial combat on a traditional overhead pendulum – and it won’t be the last time. “It’s not about whether it’s old-fashioned, it’s about the fact that headers are no longer practiced in the youth field,” explained the FC coach. “We always want to incorporate it in the future. We will therefore certainly not be the header team now, but a lot of things from the jump to the timing will be made easier in the process and you will certainly not get worse if you practice it more often.”
Especially since the header game for Cologne in the second half of the season should be the recipe for success again. In 2021/22, Baumgart even made it to Europe with a very simple but effective tactic – most goals were scored according to the principle: cross, header, goal. But so far this season it hasn’t worked because Anthony Modeste switched to Borussia Dortmund at short notice in the summer.
Selke should not only help in the penalty area
Now, with newcomer Davie Selke, there is a player in the squad with whom implementation is possible again. But Baumgart also wanted him because of the overall package. “What Davie has to start with is an absolute mentality. He’s a player who will help us as a whole and a striker that we envisioned precisely because of his presence in the penalty area and his ability in the air,” he said.
His height of 1.95 meters alone predestines Selke to be able to convert high crosses. In recent years, however, this has not been very successful. In 2017/18 he scored ten times for Hertha BSC in the Bundesliga, since then it has only been nine league goals in four and a half seasons.
Back to old Enforcer strength
“It’s obvious that I want to get into more final situations again – and Cologne fits in perfectly,” said Selke. “This offensive and courageous style of play is just right for me. It’s a huge opportunity for me and I definitely want to take advantage of it.”
However, Baumgart emphasized that the assessment of whether the striker will have taken his chance or not does not necessarily depend on the number of goals. “I don’t measure my players by goals and assists, but by their mentality. And there’s no doubt that Davie has that. But it would be nice if he scored a goal or two,” said Baumgart.
The relegation places threaten
Especially since Cologne urgently needs goals and points. After being eliminated in the group stage of the Conference League, the club has also slipped in the Bundesliga and is only three points ahead of relegation place 16. The scenario is intended to repeat the scenario from the 2017/18 season, when Cologne were relegated after qualifying for the European Cup , must be avoided at all costs.
Selke should play a key role in this, enable Baumgart to return to his recipe for success and bring back air sovereignty to Cologne. And finally have your part in ensuring that the worst case scenario will not occur at the end of the season. “I’m sure that with this style of play and intensity, it’s only a matter of time before we get the points,” promised Selke.