Cologne/Stuttgart – According to sports director Christian Keller (44), the carnival days should not have been the reason why 1. FC Cologne in the Bundesliga suffered a setback.
FC captain Jonas Hector (32, right) is disappointed after 1. FC Köln lost 3-0 at VfB Stuttgart. © Marijan Murat/dpa
“The preparation was serious and professional and we really had big plans,” said Keller after the 0:3 (0:1) defeat at VfB Stuttgart.
“We could have increased the gap down and also developed slight fantasies towards seventh place.” The fact that the special days for the Rhenish club were decisive “can be deleted,” said Keller. On Tuesday there was a club carnival meeting, which coach Steffen Baumgart (50) also enjoyed very much.
“The majority of the players were very serious and those who stayed a little longer didn’t get anything that would put you in a bad shape the next day. We worked normally, so you shouldn’t create the wrong relationship,” said Keller.
After a police scandal in front of the stadium: VfB Stuttgart messed up the carnival party for FC Köln!
“I may be a bad carnival fan, but the Bundesliga is more important to me.”
However, the Cologne team not only travel home without anything countable, they also have to cope with an injury-related absence.
Jan Thielmann (20), who had already missed out this season due to a muscle injury and a viral disease, suffered another muscle injury.
“But you can’t say exactly what he has,” said Keller. Baumgart spoke of problems on the back of the thigh.
