1. FC Köln: Daum believes in Baumgart’s Bayer miracle
Author: DAZN
At the side of FC coach Steffen Baumgart, the former coach of 1. FC Köln and Bayer 04 Leverkusen, Christoph Daum, watched the Werkself’s top game against FC Bayern (1: 5). EXPRESS.de spoke to him about the dominant Munich team, Leverkusen’s role in the league and FC’s chances in the derby against Bayer.
Leverkusen. Christoph Daum (67) was also looking forward to an absolute top game in the BayArena. 26 years after he almost stole the title with Bayer Leverkusen Bayern Munich, the former star coach was once again clearly demonstrated the balance of power in German football.
As the seat neighbor of FC trainer Steffen Baumgart (49), the Cologne-based man watched the game and sees a threatening situation for Bayer Leverkusen. “Leverkusen is vulnerable, Steffen saw that. In the form, in a sold-out Cologne stadium with all the force, they could have problems getting a point at all, “said Daum in an EXPRESS.de conversation.
Christoph Daum: “Bayer has to become more compact.”
Christoph Daum, you were a guest at the BayArena on Sunday, October 17, 2021. In your opinion, what kind of game did you experience?
In that case, my point of view is Leverkusen. And then you had to realize that the team is still very young and has to learn a lot. In a game like this you have to be much more compact, you can’t go up with four or five men and give Bayern so many spaces.
Anyone who was hoping for an exciting championship could be disappointed again. Twenty years ago Bayer fought for the title for the last time until shortly before the end. Are those times over?
Those were different times back then, the scissors diverged quite a bit after all. Bayern are the only club in Germany that doesn’t have to give up its top players. And if someone does go like David Alaba, then Bayern do it to set an example. If they had wanted to hold him, he would still be playing there.
With Julian Nagelsmann (34), the coach is another factor …
Well, you can’t get much more than the triple like Hansi Flick. But getting to the top is easy, staying up is the difficult one. And one can only wonder at Nagelsmann’s work. How he manages to keep the tension high despite all the successes is really strong. He is an excellent trainer, he is still very young and is gaining experience at a very high level.
Christoph Daum praises Steffen Baumgart
They sat next to Steffen Baumgart during the game. How did you experience it?
We talked a bit about football during the break and after the game. He is an absolutely success-oriented and personable person. Sometimes my young colleagues are too cerebral for me today, but he is someone who can inspire people and get them carried away.
But the constellation between the game Bayer against Bayern and the Rhenish duel on Sunday could not be more different. As a trainer, can you take anything with you?
I think so, Steffen saw that Bayer is vulnerable. And he’ll want to take advantage of that. Of course, it is difficult for FC to compensate for the failures of Skhiri and Hector in Hoffenheim. But I am impressed that Baumgart does not deviate from his route. With the fanatical fans behind them, with all the force, Bayer could have problems scoring a point at all. Leverkusen is prone to extremely fast game play – and this is exactly the route that Baumgart gives his team.