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Friday, February 7, 2025

“Victory at Hertha BSC: Marvin Schwäbe Adds Stability to 1. FC Köln”

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Köln’s coach Gerhard Struber made a pivotal decision by rotating goalkeepers, switching from Jonas Urbig to the experienced Marvin Schwäbe, which contributed to two consecutive wins, including a crucial 1-0 victory over Hertha BSC. This change, along with a reshaped defensive strategy, has brought stability to the team, helping them climb away from the relegation zone. Struber and his players, including goalscorer Tim Lemperle, emphasize the need to maintain focus and aim higher in the league standings as they prepare for their next match against Fürth.

Köln’s Coach Gerhard Struber has made a successful change in goalkeeper, leading the team to two consecutive victories after a tough start.

The team has now achieved two back-to-back clean sheet wins, advancing to the next round of the cup against a top-tier team, and moving closer to safety in the league. After the 1-0 victory over Hertha BSC, Struber praised his team’s ‘very mature’ and ‘very composed’ performance, acknowledging that his prior personnel decision has had a positive impact leading up to these successes.

Experience and Stability from Schwäbe

Following a series of games with Jonas Urbig as goalkeeper, Struber rotated Marvin Schwäbe into the lineup for the cup match against Holstein Kiel (3-0), and he performed admirably. Struber favored Schwäbe, who at 29 offers more experience and leadership than the 21-year-old Urbig: ‘He embodied and radiated these attributes, which is invaluable for us right now,’ Struber commented.

Struber’s choice was to go with Schwäbe, not against Urbig. ‘I have two excellent goalkeepers to choose from, which is a luxury,’ he remarked before the match in Berlin. Schwäbe’s contributions in the two clean sheet victories provided the team with much-needed stability. The decision to rotate the goalkeeper followed disappointing defeats to Darmstadt (1-5) and Paderborn (1-2), which increased pressure on Struber.

With the away victory against Hertha BSC, 1. FC Köln has taken a significant step away from crisis mode, providing some breathing room for the club’s sports management.

Struber’s Defensive Adjustments Pay Off

The switch to a three-man defense, alongside Schwäbe’s incorporation into the starting lineup, was a response to growing criticism, and the results vindicated the Austrian coach’s strategy. ‘The boys delivered an excellent performance today,’ Struber said after the win against Hertha.

Schwäbe himself relished the victory, stating, ‘It feels amazing to be able to help the team again.’ Despite the game being technically an away match, it didn’t feel like one, as a large number of Köln supporters made the journey to the Olympiastadion. ‘15,000 away fans in Berlin is incredibly rare,’ Schwäbe expressed joyfully.

The fans were able to celebrate not only a cup win but also an important league victory, thanks in part to Tim Lemperle. The forward scored against Kiel and netted the decisive goal in Berlin, tallying six goals and four assists in official matches. However, with only 15 points after eleven matchdays, Lemperle knows that it’s too early for celebration: ‘The ease of play isn’t quite there yet, so we’re focusing on the fundamentals,’ he said.

These fundamentals are aimed at elevating FC Köln from mid-table positions towards the top. As a Bundesliga relegation team, their ambitions extend far beyond the middle of the 2. Liga. ‘With the quality in our squad, we should be aiming higher, and it’s essential to display that in every match moving forward,’ Lemperle added. The next challenge awaits against Fürth next Saturday.

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