"I'm surprised Jonas suddenly lost weight"

1. FC Koln will welcome an almost overwhelming FC Bayern in the second round of the DFB Cup. Sporting director Thomas Kessler talks in an exclusive interview about the chances of "Effzeh", the reunion with Jonas Urbig and the future of Said El Mal.

Fire, spot.If the fans of 1. FC Cologne have their way, there won't be a game to be celebrated on Wednesday's match day, but instead a good round of football.

I was surprised that Jonas lost weight immediately.

Only the boss Colly spoke

The dreams "effzeeh" in the Special Story where the Underdog Bowls the FC Bayern almost over the cup (from 8:45 p.m. In lifetker).A win would make a great achievement for Cologne.

It is therefore entirely appropriate that sports director Thomas Kessler meets for an interview not on the pitch, but in the cinema hall of Giebukheim.Amid the bright red seats with the FC coat of arms, the former goalkeeper talks about Cologne's prospects, the alliance with Jonas Arbig and of course the future of Cologne's shooting star Sid Al Mala.

: Mr. Kessler, how did you react to Timobars big knee problem? What does his failure mean to you?

Thomas Kessler: Of course this is painful for the team and the team, but especially for Timo himself.He is a player who deserves a lot for us, who not only put himself at the service of the team in this match, but always did.You see how fast things can happen in football sometimes.We support TIMO 100 percent. But we are here to help him.

: Is there any hope that he will return this season or is he not thinking yet?

Kessler: We can't look into a crystal ball.Now we will see how the surgery went and how the healing goes in the coming months.

: Hübers' contract expires after the season.Is there an option to extend his contract early - same as Luca Kilian?

Kessler: Of course we will also talk about Timo's future, but I don't think now is the right time to talk about it.

: How did you experience the sixth minute of injury time in Dortmund?

Kessler: These moments are a sport.The boys gave everything, especially in the first half they played great football.We had some good possessions and turnovers.Unfortunately, we missed a few chances.Although the end is very bitter, this situation can give us courage.

"Nagelsmann and Kronenberg will think about it."

: Marvin Schwäbe had a big day against Dortmund.They are strong.Did he walk again in the summer?

Kessler: We've known for years that Marvin is a good goaltender.The fact that Lukas (Kwasniok; editor's note) made the captain made him stronger in his role.But it's not just about his excellent performances on the pitch, it's also about how he conducts himself off and on as a leader.Best example: after Timo was injured, he called all the players and spoke to the team.And that is what sets the captain apart: who leads in difficult times and provides security for the team.

: How do you see him in the ranking of German goalkeepers?Can he become a national team player too?

Kessler: It's hard things to judge me.He is definitely an higher-average Bundesliga goalkeeper.We still need their good goalkeeper this season.We have two that can easily compete in the Bundesliga.Mir are very happy about this and about the DFB team: Julian Nagels Mobile and Andrew Kronenberg (National Team Golkeys.

"Things always happen fast in Cologne"

: FK Bundesliga has eleven points.As a newbie, how satisfied are you with this startup?

Kessler: After a lot of effort over the summer, including a new training camp, we did well.Lukas will be very comfortable here, he will fit in well with the city and the surrounding area.Our start is very dramatic.

: You lost narrowly against top teams Leipzig (1:3), Stuttgart (1:2) and BVB (0:1).Does it still show that the club did a lot in the summer?

Kessler: I would like to draw a conclusion after the season.In clicks always won two games, we reach Europe.Here we make two, we will be more .mir, we will be taken for given.The.bearforms are to be taken for given.The.bearforms The small things and we cannot give in an inch.

: You came to the festival in 1999. First of all.First as a youth player, after them as a coach, after them as a Sports Director.How old are you?

Kessler: It's been a stressful summer, especially after transfer after transfer, because of our Bundesliga plans.After the game against Keyserlel, we were able to start after confirming the chaos.To do this, we had to create a new training team together.It's been an intense summer.

"This is not one show"

: How has your daily life changed?

Kessler: I have the primary responsibility for the sport and am measured by the results.How well coaches and transitions work.But this is not one person.At the end of the day, I have to make decisions and be responsible for them, but there are many good employees in my area who work with a lot of passion.I am an absolute team player.

: KF will have a new board in about a month.Now there is a reckoning when the club will appoint a third managing director - one for the sports area.Is that conceivable for you?After all, you're just stressed out over the summer.

Kassler: Obedience, I'll agree with that.I have to be my job. She said we have a good understanding.

"We want to fight the Great War"

: This time, it's a match against an almost extremist FC Bayn team. How do you want to progress?

KESSLER: Bayern is at the top of the Bundesliga, one of the best teams in Europe.But these are the challenges you want to get as a footballer.In fact, this would be anything but easy.But we play at home, under the lights.Kindness.We were able to show at the weekend that we can be dangerous when we have the ball and people in attack and we can hurt the opponent.

: There will be a meeting with Jonas Urbig, who will have a goal for Bayern.Are you still in touch?

Kessler: We last contacted him on his birthday (August 8; Editor's note).He was surprised that he lost weight immediately.He was very happy.I will follow Jonas for many years.He was the first because he improved so much with the credit stations of Regensburg and Fürburg.Even though the coach chose Marvin Schwinn at a difficult time last year.He's playing on Boehner's show now, he's got a lot of potential and he's got a lot of potential and he's a talented goaltender with a lot of potential.He is really wide at such a young age.I am happy for him that he is now playing for FC Bayern.But of course, I hope he gets choked on a ball or two (laughs).

: Do you know your personal record against Bayern when you're in between fixtures?

Kessler: I remember once I received a red card against FC St Pai Pai because Thomas Müller Thomas Müller Who has Rasa (FUTURE CODE).And I can't remember us not winning against FC in a week in Munich.

: Score three times against Bayern.There were three defeats: 0:3, 0:3 and 1:8.

Kessler: Yes.Of course, you tend to ignore such a thing.

"He's not done yet."

But Vijay is on the weekend.1.FC Köln won 2-1 in 2009.At the time, Lukas Podolski still played for Bayern.This is exactly the kind of guy FC fans want.Did you find him in Dixit El Mala?How does he experience the hype around him?

Kessler: First of all, he's very focused.I think that after the loan to Victoria Köln, Said was serious about playing here in the Bundesliga.The first missions were promising.However, we must not forget that at the weekend against BVB he started for the second time in the Bundesliga.Expectations in Cologne can be very high, also due to the media environment.to work.You can assess your surroundings very well.And we will accompany you in your development step by step with us.It's not over yet.

: Why is this address perfect?There are few more clubs in its list...

Kessler: We stayed with him and we stayed long during the summer and continued until 2029, we have said what I said.

: Until now on January 11, there are still three games on the schedule: Bayern in the cup, the fight against HSV and the Rhine derby against Borussia Mönchengladbach.How many points are planned?

Kessler: With Florian König playing one-two, I would have to pay now, but we would do well to take it game by game.Our focus is now on Bayern and then we will do everything to keep the gap at the bottom.

: You once went to Carnival as Tim Waise.Are the apples ready for this year?

Kessler: The city is very hot today.Honestly, it's 11/11.but that's not really my topic.For me, the carnival doesn't happen until February.Then when we also have our FC meeting.I like to be there to celebrate and enjoy the weather.But now we have a lot of other matters at the club that we want to continue during the international break, around 11/11.