U21 of 1. FC Köln celebrates their first win: 1-0 against FSV Frankfurt!

U21 of 1. FC Köln celebrates their first win: 1-0 against FSV Frankfurt!

In the heart of Cologne, things are going strong with the U21s of 1. FC Köln, who have just completed their second test as part of their summer preparations. In an exciting duel against FSV Frankfurt, coach Evangelos Sbonias' team won 1-0. Patrik Kristal scored the decisive goal in the 37th minute, allowing the Cologne team to celebrate on Sunday at the SC Rondorf facility in the south of Cologne. Come On FC reports that Sbonias has put together a squad that appears well prepared for the upcoming league start in about a month.

The team was a bit shy at first, especially on offense. The only goal of the game came from a mistake by Frankfurt in the build-up game, which the U21 cleverly exploited. Mikail Özkan, whose contract is about to expire, played in central defense alongside Luc Dabrowski. The experienced Luca Dürholtz was active as captain and formed the double six together with Nick Zimmermann. On the right side of defense, Marvin Ajani exuded stability, while the attacking three-man line with Safyan Toure, Etienne Borie and Patrik Kristal came into play.

Training and restructuring

After Sbonias made numerous changes in the second half, it became apparent that the substitutes had not yet reached the desired level. Despite Frankfurt having more possession of the ball, the opposing offense also remained harmless. The coach highlighted the importance of success in this testing phase and expressed optimism about his team's progress. After a day off on Sunday, the starting signal will be given for a five-day training camp in Hennef, where the players will continue to work on their form.

The Cologne U21s also started their season preparation with a breath of fresh air. The team has undergone a major transformation and is benefiting from the talent of the U19, including the newly crowned German champions Keyhan Sancarbarlaz, Kian Hekmat, Luis Hauer, Nick Zimmermann and San-Luca Spitali. While Fayssal Harchaoui and Gabriel Miocevic are currently working in the rehabilitation area, Yannick Mausehund is fighting to return to training after an ankle injury. Estonia's international Patrik Kristal and Dürholtz will join the team next week, further increasing the anticipation for the season. The official website of the FC provides exciting insights into this.

Focus on development and game culture

In youth football, the focus is not just on results. Rather, it is important to promote the individual development of each player. Loud Fussball.de Respectful interaction between clubs and players should have the highest priority in order to create positive cooperation. Clearly defined rules and a common goal of training should always be the focus.

As the U21 of 1. FC Köln prepares for the start of the season in the Regionalliga West on the last weekend in July, the question arises: Which talents will prevail and delight the Cologne fans? The next steps in preparation will be crucial. It will be exciting to see how the team performs in its further tests!