Schultz, Keller, Selke, Schmidt, and Beck all find positives in 1-1 draw
There was plenty of satisfaction to spread around following FC Köln's 1-1 draw with Heidenheim Saturday afternoon in Germany's cathedral city.
Newly installed 1. FC Köln trainer Timo Schultz's Bundesliga debut saw the former 1. FC St. Pauli gaffer earn a point in his first match in charge of a top tier German side. Speaking to the Sky microphones afterward, the 46-year-old reflected on what it felt like to coach a team in front of a full house of 50,000 supporters.
"Everything is bigger on this stage," Schultz told his interviewer, "It was a nice first home game in front of the home crowd, but unfortunately not a win."
Both Shultz's goal-scorer and his sporting director had more robust words to contribute. Embattled Effzeh chief personnel executive Christian Keller insisted he witnessed "a team that did a lot with the ball and whose performance can be built upon." Selke - who looked exceptionally strong on his fifth league tally of the season - expressed similar sentiments.
"We played a good game in the first-half and implemented the coach's game plan well," Selke told the Sky mics, "We could have perhaps scored again, but didn't get a great chance. We can still build on that. I had the impression that we were clear-headed and motivated."
Heidenheim trainer Frank Schmidt admitted that his team weren't the better side on the day. Despite the fact that the visiting BaWü borders were able to exploit Köln's weaknesses on the flanks, Schmidt found himself so dissatisfied with the first-half performance that he employed two personnel changes at the break. This paid off, with second-half sub Adrian Beck scoring his inaugural Bundesliga goal on the equalizer.
"We weren't good at all in the game," Schmidt said of the first half, "Köln pulled back and we just played the ball across. We lacked movement in attack, we weren't able to tie the ball down and then we went behind. We brought in different players with the second half changes."
"Adrian Beck is a player who can latch onto balls well," Schmidt said of his goal-scorer, "Adrian possesses super technique on the ball and is also two-footed. We're glad we have Adrian because he's simply outstanding technically."
Beck himself was overjoyed with his milestone when conducting his post-match interview. Just two years ago, the 26-year-old was playing with SSV Ulm ion the fourth-tier Regionalliga Southwest. His meteoric rise to the top flight and a very skillfully drop-kick finish off the volley left the Crailsheim-native all smiles.
"I can't even describe what it feels like to progress up to the Bundesliga," Beck told his interviewer, "It all happened so quickly; so fast. As a boy, you dream of playing in the Bundesliga. The fact that you then score a goal is even more special. I'm very proud of that."