Regensburg (dpa / lby) – Coach Mersad Selimbegovic slips into the role of the low-flyer before the DFB Cup match against the Bundesliga soccer club 1. FC Köln, despite the perfect start to the second division season of his SSV Jahn Regensburg. “If so, then 0.01 percent,” said the Jahn coach about his team’s chances this Saturday (3:30 p.m. / Sky) in the first round game against the clearly favored Cologne team.
In truth, Selimbegovic and his team, which started the season with two wins and leads the 2nd division as table leaders, are of course already pursuing a clear plan for success. The home advantage in front of probably 15,000 spectators in the Jahnstadion also plays a role in this: You want to “take the fans with you” and force “an open exchange of blows”, said the coach on Thursday: “I hope that it’s not just the weather, but also on place gets hot.”
The people of Cologne have been warned: in February 2021, they lost the only cup duel with Jahn in the round of 16 on penalties in the Regensburg stadium. “The two victories in the 2nd division show that Regensburg is in a good mood. We already know what to expect,” said Cologne coach Steffen Baumgart.
Selimbegovic expects the Rhinelanders to appear in the first competitive game of the season with “full-throttle football” brand Baumgart: “They want to do their own thing.” He expects many crosses from the opponent because in Anthony Modeste they have a striker in the penalty area “who can make a headed goal from any position”.
According to Selimbegovic, Jahn has a “little question mark” behind the appearances of the ailing Maximilian Thalhammer and Nicklas Shipnoski.
There is a reunion with ex-Jahn boss Christian Keller, who has recently become the sports manager in Cologne. Selimbegovic is still in regular contact with the 43-year-old, but revealed before the game against each other: “This week is quiet now – and offline.”
