Said El Mala scored but FC Koln lost both of their friendly matches against SC Paderborn. In the games on Tuesday, coach René Wagner's team first lost 2:3 and then 3:4 in the afternoon, as reported by "Geissblog".
How did Said El Mala perform after the transfer speculation?
The 19-year-old forward was in the spotlight after a potential move to Borussia Dortmund fell through last Friday. Sporting director Thomas Kessler said after the match that he sees no sadness in El Mala. "I see him every day in training, every day in the dressing room and beside the pitch." Kessler told "Geissblog". El Mala converted a penalty he won himself in the 78th minute of the first game to make it 2:3. The current squad list still shows him as part of the Cologne squad.
What happened in the friendlies against Paderborn?
In the first match, Cologne took the lead through an Ache goal in the 25th minute. However, the newly promoted second division side turned the game around in the second half with three goals in 15 minutes from Meier, Castaneda and Cirda. Coach Wagner had fielded a supposed A-team, surprising with new signing Okon-Engstler in defensive midfield and Thielmann as a number ten. The full lineups and further statistics are available on our stats page.
The second match in the afternoon ended 3:4 from Cologne's perspective. Luca Waldschmidt scored twice but had to limp off after 61 minutes with a thigh problem. His injury and the status of other players are updated on the injuries overview. The other goals for Cologne were scored by Tigges and Johannesson, while for Paderborn, Tigges (three times) and Götze found the net.
What are the consequences of the defeat for FC Koln?
The weak performance, especially in the second half of the first test, could lead to reconsiderations regarding the starting lineup, according to the report. Just over a week before the DFB-Pokal match in Würzburg on August 24th, Wagner needs to find his optimal formation. The current Bundesliga table situation can be tracked on the standings page. Furthermore, the pursued transfer of English playmaker Mikey Moore from Tottenham Hotspur is currently stalling. The 19-year-old is supposed to strengthen the attack.
The friendlies provided initial clues about the team's form shortly before the start of the season. Waldschmidt's injury is a setback, while El Mala fulfilled his duties on the pitch despite the transfer-related noise. Preparations continue with further training sessions and the final team selection for the cup opener.
