Köln’s interim coach, René Wagner, displayed a calm demeanor as he approached his second Bundesliga match. Charged with steering the club from Germany’s cathedral city away from relegation, Wagner is right to have faith in his squad after they launched a commendable comeback, leveling 2-2 against Eintracht Frankfurt last weekend after trailing by two goals. The team netted twice in the final 20 minutes to secure the draw against Albert Riera’s side.
Wagner shared the stage with Riera at the post-match press conference on Easter Sunday, showcasing a contrast to his animated counterpart. With significant international playing experience and a background working under Steffen Baumgart, Wagner carries himself with the composure of a seasoned head coach.
The 38-year-old certainly doesn’t come across as inexperienced. How his Domstädter squad performs against fellow relegation battlers Werder Bremen, who are dealing with injuries and unrest, will be telling. Unlike his dismissed predecessor Lukas Kwasniok, Wagner avoids colorful language or confrontations with the press.
Köln could feel optimistic about securing a vital three points at home in the RheinEnergieStadion with the composed Wagner at the helm. Hailing from Dresden, he has already garnered acclaim for his effective coaching, with substitutes Marius Bülter, Alessio-Castro Montes, and Luca Waldschmit all contributing to the critical equalizer in the match against Frankfurt.
René Wagner on trusting his Köln players
“I believe I’ve done a good job over the last few weeks instilling in the team that we don’t have to internalize the outside pressure,” Wagner said when asked about the expectations for a victory. “We address that with the team daily. Our goal is to maintain calm within the squad rather than let stress affect us.
“After going down 2-0 in Frankfurt, the team showed enough composure to believe in their ability to bounce back,” Wagner continued. “Many teams might falter in that situation, but staying calm helps us immensely. The mood within the camp is balanced and tranquil. We understand the stakes, but it’s counterproductive to dwell on every potential outcome.
“Our focus is on executing our game plan,” Wagner concluded. “All I can say is that the team performed well against Eintracht and also had a solid showing against RB Leipzig in Kwasniok’s last match. We believe we could have achieved more from that Leipzig game, and we use that as a foundation for our efforts moving forward.”