Köllner after the 9-point week: "We made some adjustments"

Created: 03/07/2022Updated: 03/07/2022 17:41

By: Uli Kellner

When it's going, it's going: The strengthened Merveille Biankadi scores his dream goal with a scissor volley against losers. © Imago

The word Ascension is still on the index at 1860.

But: It works again.

Third-best second half team, strengthened reservists - and a booster chance...

Before the free weekend, of course, there was the question of all questions about resubmission - but even in the euphoria after a nine-point week, Michael Köllner did not let himself be lured.

"Definitely not that soon," said the 1860 coach when asked when he would officially use the word promotion.

The sky-high rejoicing is just as little for Köllner as he was willing to let himself be infected by the saddened club environment after four games without a win in February.

"One and a half weeks ago we failed miserably," he recalled some of the hasty overall judgments.

The current state has not only stimulated the imagination of deep blue dreamers for a long time.

The lions are the third-best team in the second half of the season, are only two points behind their previous year's mark, they have made the connection to the promotion zone - and a possible joker is not even taken into account: namely the chance to climb further in the table if the insolvency club Türkgücü finally dies must strike sail.

The lions would then lose two weak derby results (1:1, 1:2), the four clubs in front of them three points (Magdeburg, Braunschweig, FCK) and six (Saarbrücken).

The impending end of the city rival as a booster opportunity (probably decided on March 19)?

A pragmatist like Köllner naturally prefers to talk about the new sporting quality that slumbered in the depths of his often underestimated squad - and in the victories against Zwickau (3: 1), Kaiserslautern (2: 1) and Verl (2: 0) in form of vitamin B unfolded.

B for bank, because the former problem children Merv Biankadi, Erik Tallig and Kevin Goden are getting better and better.

"We have turned one or the other screw," said Köllner and praised his valuable ex-reservists: "They are now helping the team brutally - and in the end it will be very important that you can count on every player."

In general, Köllner felt the need to praise his squad, which is now rushing from victory to victory even without winter acquisitions.

"You have to trust your team, that's the be-all and end-all," said Köllner, emphasizing: "I never doubted the team.

We've had a two-point cut and seven games since December.

It is crucial that you keep coming back.” This virtue, which Köllner called “comeback quality”, was recently impressively demonstrated by his team.

And as it is: no sooner has the squad been successfully talked up than it is necessary to downplay the obvious opportunity for advancement.

Not only the coach has mastered this art, but also his team.

"We'll see how many points there are in the end and whether it's enough or not.

We don't discuss it in the dressing room," said goalkeeper Marco Hiller.

"We watch from game to game," Biankadi verbally held the ball flat (unlike his scissor strike dream goal against Verl): "Two weeks ago we were declared dead.

We would do well to remain humble.

No one has gotten promoted just by speaking.” In the spirit of Köllner, who after the relaxing weekend only wants to pay attention to the next opponent: “We have a difficult game in Berlin on Friday.

it is important