FC Cologne has little time to regroup after its disappointing elimination from the German Cup. September 25th, 2008
FC Cologne has little time to regroup after its disappointing elimination from the German Cup. Next facing Bundesliga leader Schalke.
Cologne’s 3-1 loss at second-division FSV Mainz followed defeats against Bayern Munich and Arminia Bielefeld.
“We are certainly in an absolutely critical phase,” said Cologne coach Christoph Daum, whose job is not yet in danger but could be if the struggles continue.
“We’re talking about the basics here – not about any special tactics,” Daum added. “We’re missing the courage out there.”
Daum, who won the German league title with Stuttgart in 1992, has promised changes ahead of Friday’s match against Schalke.
“I will look exactly at who wants to continue and take the consequences,” Daum said.
Daum is expected to drop his 4-4-2 system and return to the 4-2-3-1 lineup, with which Cologne has gained all four of its points.
Schalke comes into the game with three straight victories and four wins in a five-game undefeated stretch since losing to Atletico Madrid in qualifying for the Champions League.
The team has not lost in the Bundesliga and leads the league with 11 points – one point ahead of Hoffenheim, Stuttgart and Hamburger SV.
Perhaps the biggest key has been defender Heiko Westermann, who has turned into a serious scoring threat since moving forward as a midfielder.
“It really surprises me as well that Heiko is scoring so many goals,” Schalke coach Fred Rutten said after Schalke’s 2-0 German Cup victory over Hannover, with both goals coming from Westermann.
Germany coach Joachim Loew has been impressed with Westermann, who has scored five goals and set up two others in five games since the switch to the midfield.
“He is a phenomenon,” Loew said. “I can imagine him in the national team.”
On Saturday, Werder Bremen hosts Hoffenheim. After beating Bayern Munich 5-2 last weekend, Bremen struggled to beat Erzgebirge Aue 2-1 in the German Cup.
Both Stuttgart and Hamburg also have 10 points. Stuttgart plays at Borussia Dortmund and Hamburg hosts Borussia Moenchengladbach.
Also Saturday, Bayern Munich hosts Hannover, Hertha Berlin hosts Energie Cottbus and Bayer Leverkusen visits Bochum. On Sunday, Eintracht Frankfurt hosts Arminia Bielefeld and Wolfsburg plays at Karlruhe.