Do you expect to be nominated again for the World Cup playoffs?

Kainz: I’m not thinking about that yet, they’re only in March. Until then, so much can still happen. But the fact is that I got the signal that I still have the chance to be part of it.

Do you see your World Cup dream in jeopardy?

Kainz: The most important thing is that we qualify as a team. It’s not about me now, we have to make sure that we are fully there in March and can do it. That would be a huge dream not only for me, but for all of us.

You have been in Cologne for almost three years now. Your contract will expire in the summer. Have you already spoken to FC about an extension?

Kainz: It’s still quiet there at the moment. But it doesn’t help either, because one of my unnecessary pressure builds up, neither from nor from the club side. I think that the talks will start towards winter.

Would you like to stay with FC?

Kainz: I feel very comfortable here. I’m fine in Cologne. I think if you look back over the three years, they were very positive. I came in winter 2019. We immediately became champions in the second division and rose. Then we held the class. Now it looks good again. I think we are on the right track. On top of that, it’s so much fun right now.

You’re 29 and it will likely be your last big contract. How has your negotiating position changed as a result of Corona?

Kainz: It looks like it’s a club affair. I think it’s a very difficult situation for 1. FC Köln. At the general meeting you heard the numbers that were presented. I think it’s a huge challenge to absorb and compensate for that. So the club WILL first have to line up. Therefore, from the player’s point of view, patience is required. In the meantime, I focus on performing on the pitch. That’s the most important. I’m glad that I’m fit and that I’m fine – and that we’re celebrating successes and wins again with the team.

Florian Kainz from 1. FC Köln: “As a player, patience is required at the moment”

Eight contracts with FC expire in the summer. A rather unusual constellation. How do you rate that?

Kainz: It was already the case in the previous summer transfer period that we only brought free transfer players. But that’s the same with other clubs. Even then it was difficult for players with current contracts to find new clubs at all. I also have friends who have struggled. It’s not just like that with us, but with all clubs. As a player, you just have to be patient.

You are currently the second best scorer on the team. How satisfied are you with your own performance so far?

Kainz: There is always more. Against Union I had the winning goal on the foot and won’t do it. because that’s what I mean. I haven’t put a special mark on myself now. I just make sure that I perform well. That I implement what the coaching team demands of us in the best possible way for my position and optimize my form of play. Then the scorer points come by themselves.

Have you already internalized Steffen Baumgart’s system?

Kainz: In any case, I feel very comfortable in the system and try to bring my strengths to bear. It suits me that we can get over the flanks a lot. Especially when we have a lot of strikers with strong headers as buyers. It’s been working well as a team so far. That’s why I don’t want to talk so much about myself. We as a team are doing very well.

Author: Herbert Bucco

Florian Kainz (here on October 29, 2021) has found his place at 1. FC Köln under Steffen Baumgart.

Has it changed compared to last season?

Kainz: We play a completely different kind of football. We play a different system. At the moment we are simply convinced. The coach takes everyone with him, the players, the city and the audience. I think the way we play is also fun to watch. You could see that from the start when we scored a few points. That was also important for the feeling. We took the momentum with us and that gave us a push. We just believe that the way we play WILL be successful in the long run. Now of course we haven’t won four games.

Most recently there were whistles from the fans in the game against Union. Did that disappoint you?

Kainz: It didn’t surprise me. I’ve been in Cologne for three years now and I know the environment by now. The demands in Cologne are very high. Of course, from a player’s point of view, I would prefer it not to be whistled. Because I believe that we are on the right track, especially compared to the previous season.

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You were doomed to watch for a long time last season due to an injury. How is your knee now?

Kainz: It’s all great. Except for the suspension against Leipzig and the cup game against Stuttgart, where I was sick, I played all the games. I feel good and fit. This also applies to the entire team. It was a very tough preparation, but it is now paying off. We have to stick with it and continue like this, also with the intensity of the training. Then everything looks really good.

How important was it that they could do all of the prep for you?

Kainz: It was very important, especially for the head. Last year I missed the preparation and was out forever. After that, I played the last seven or eight games again without preparation. Therefore the summer preparation was very important for me. I have confidence in my body and my knees again.

You haven’t won in four games and haven’t won a game after an international break in two years. What has to go better against Mainz so that this series can be broken?

Kainz: I don’t think much of such statistics (laughs). We already know what to expect. Mainz is an extremely strong team. determined Bo Svensson is the coach there, they have scored an extremely high number of points. It’s a very strong team. They are uncomfortable to play. But I think that applies to us as well. You could see that no matter where and against whom we play, we always had the chance to win the game. I think we have to go into the games with confidence and reward ourselves. We had a chance of winning in many games – especially at the end. We just have to stay focused and be convinced that we can win the game. Then we could have a lot more points in our account.

Author: Eduard Bopp

Florian Kainz during the interview with EXPRESS.de on November 18, 2021.

The stadiums in the Bundesliga are full again. At the same time, the corona numbers are skyrocketing. There are also new cases in the Bundesliga. How do you rate the overall situation?

Kainz: It is very difficult to judge that. If it even concerns players who have been vaccinated, like Josip Stanisic from FC Bayern. We just have to make sure we behave decently and minimize the risk of getting infected as much as possible. We are of course very happy that the spectators are back in the stadium. You noticed that last season: We missed the fans, they do us very well, especially at our home games.

Conclusion: Do you still have goals and dreams in your career that you would like to fulfill?

Kainz: No, compared to some of my colleagues, I don’t have any dreams abroad or anything like that. You never know how it’s going to happen. When I came to FC at the time, it was also very short-term. At that time I still had a contract with Werder. Then I was told that they were no longer planning with me and I came to Cologne. It wasn’t always easy for me at FC either. That’s why it’s important to me now that I play good season games and that I stay fit.