With 32 points after 19 games, the U21 team of 1. FC Köln is doing very well in the Regionalliga West. We spoke to the coach.

Nine wins, five draws, five defeats, 38:26 goals: that is the record of 1. FC Köln II after 19 of 34 match days in the Regionalliga West.

Even though Cologne’s second team squandered an even better starting position with four games without a win – two draws and two defeats – in the last matches before the winter break, those in charge are satisfied.

Evangelos Sbonias, coach of the 1. FC Köln U21 team, on…

… the first half of the season for Cologne’s second team: “We are very, very proud of how this young team has performed in the first half of the season. The aim of the 1. FC Köln U21 team is to develop players under the best possible conditions. We are doing very well and our results show that we are absolutely on target in terms of the table. Therefore, the conclusion is consistently positive, knowing that we still have a lot of potential that we can exploit.”

… the best moment of the past first half of the season: “There wasn’t just one moment for me. The fact that there were several moments is absolutely due to our team’s good performance. But I have to say that when we are not allowed to play parallel to the professionals and under floodlights in the Franz Kremer Stadium with the support of the active fan scene, that is very, very special.”

… the worst moment: “The worst moment of the half-season, for me, was the first 25 minutes of the season against Fortuna Cologne. We were 3-0 down and it was a really unlucky start to the season. But since then, there haven’t been that many bad moments thanks to good, focused work.”

… the goals for 2024: “It’s clearly about continuing to develop our talents and giving them plenty of game time in a competitive league. If we continue to do that as well as we have done so far in the collaboration between the coaching staff and the team, the results will inevitably be good too.”