Under captain Kwasniok: How promoted side 1. FC Köln are making waves

If Lukas Kwasniok had known at the start of the season that his side would be sitting in the top eight in the Bundesliga after eight matchdays, he would surely have considered it a great success. The Köln head coach had stressed back then that, as a newly-promoted team, the club should approach the mission of avoiding the drop “humbly” - knowing full well that things could get quite a bit more stormy in Germany's top flight than in the previous Bundesliga 2 season. However, it soon became clear that Kwasniok had taken the right path with this modest but determined approach. In the role of underdogs, Köln have so far manoeuvred their way safely through the rough waters of the league. With 11 points from their first eight games, they boast a record that arguably would have surprised even the greatest optimist.

Early marker laid down in the Bundesliga

Kwasniok, the new captain of the good ship Köln, charts the course. Instead of simply drifting along, the team have resolutely hoisted the sails. Marvin Schwäbe and Co. laid down an early marker with the 4-1 win against SC Freiburg on Matchday 2. The win at TSG Hoffenheim (1-0) also showed that the newly-promoted side are certainly competitive. Only in defeats to top teams such as RB Leipzig (3-1), VfB Stuttgart (2-1) and Borussia Dortmund (1-0) have the Billy Goats recently struggled. "Even though we were able to hold our own quite well, we didn't pick up a point against these top teams. That shows we still have steps to take," said Kwasniok after the defeat at BVB , once again showing his modesty despite his team's strong performance.

Using this approach, Köln have so far safely navigated the choppy seas of the Bundesliga. The turbulent end to the season with the change of coach with two matchdays to go and the eventful summer of transfers called for a safe helmsman - which Köln appear to have found in Kwasniok. Along with sporting director Thomas Kessler, he set about signing suitable replacements to compensate for several departures in the summer. In Damion Downs (21, Southampton) and Max Finkgräfe (21, RB Leipzig), the three-time German champions lost two promising home-grown players, while Dejan Ljubicic (27, Dinamo Zagreb) and Mark Uth (33, retired), two key players of recent years, also departed the club.

Bülter & El Mala making the difference

Eight matchdays in, the club's sporting management can undoubtedly be described as doing a solid job. Marquee signing Rav van den Berg (21, Middlesbrough) may have only played 161 minutes so far, but Ísak Jóhannesson (22, Fortuna Düsseldorf) has quickly established himself as one of the key figures in midfield. Up front, the signing of Marius Bülter (32, TSG Hoffenheim) has already more than paid off: the experienced striker has notched up two goals and three assists in six appearances so far. Returning loanee Said El Mala (19, Viktoria Köln) has quickly established himself as a real beacon of hope on the left wing: Three goals and one assist in just eight appearances underscore his enormous potential. In addition, loanee Jakub Kaminski (23, VfL Wolfsburg) has also firmly established himself in the team.

Under the leadership of Lukas Kwasniok, FC Köln formed a team with many new faces who had to adapt to a fresh tactical system. The coach has adopted a 3-4-3 formation, with Joel Schmied, Dominique Heintz and Timo Hübers forming the back line in front of goalkeeper Marvin Schwäbe. However, the latter suffered a serious knee injury in the clash with BVB, meaning that either Cenk Özkacar could step in or Eric Martel may well move back a row to the centre-back position. In the centre of midfield, Kwasniok can call on Denis Huseinbasic alongside Martel and the established Ísak Jóhannesson. New signings Kristoffer Lund on the left and Sebastian Sebulonsen on the right will be deployed on the flanks. In attack, Marius Bülter, Jakub Kaminski and Said El Mala are likely to be given the nod, while Kwasniok has additional options in the centre in Luca Waldschmidt and Ragnar Ache.

The facts on the cup clash with 1. FC Köln:

How Kwasniok’s 3-4-3 system works

Under Kwasniok, Köln have adopted a tactical philosophy that's characterised by constant movement and activity - like a ship that doesn't sail stubbornly, but reacts flexibly to the wind. The coach demands that his players always have a presence, both mentally and physically. This intensive approach is also evident in the way the players build up play: Köln lure their opponents into certain spaces and then split the defence with pin-point passes or targeted long balls. The coach doesn't want to get caught up in rigid systems, instead favouring a flexible approach that gives the players freedom in their decision-making.

The new coach has managed to form a team who have been solid in both defence and attack in the first few weeks of the season. A central element of Köln's game are the wing-based attacks and dynamic, inverted dribbling, which become a constant threat to the opposition's defence, especially through players like El Mala. Even if FC don't always exert constant pressure, the concept is clear: there's no flinching, but a constant interplay between aggressive pressing and defensive compactness. They adapt their pressure depending on the game situation - sometimes they press their opponents high, sometimes they pull back to open up spaces for their quick counter-attacks.

With a team who have quickly found their feet despite the many new faces and a captain who is staying the course, the good ship Köln currently appears to be safely on course. In the cup tie with FC Bayern (Wednesday, 20:45 CET), however, the Billy Goats should expect a strong headwind and stormy waves.

An absolute FC Bayern legend visited the Allianz Arena last week::