New Hope for Said El Mala as Interim Coach René Wagner Hints at More Starts
Young talent Said El Mala can anticipate increased opportunities in the starting lineup under the guidance of new interim coach Rene Wagner.
Wagner, who has taken over as interim coach for 1. FC Köln following Lukas Kwasniok's dismissal, described El Mala as a "game-changer." He emphasized, "He can make an impact coming off the bench, or right from the start. But I believe we are not doing ourselves any favors by not having Said in the starting eleven right now."
Despite a recent family bereavement, El Mala will be available for Köln's match against Eintracht Frankfurt on Sunday. Wagner noted that the 19-year-old was "saddened" by the passing of his grandmother but now wishes "simply to play a good game on Sunday," adding that "the team here has rallied around him."
El Mala Often a Substitute Under Kwasniok
Under Kwasniok, El Mala, who recently scored his first goal for the U21 squad, frequently entered matches as a substitute. He started in 13 out of 27 Bundesliga fixtures. Kwasniok's management of El Mala's playing time occasionally drew criticism from observers.
Wagner, who previously served as Kwasniok's assistant coach, plans to rely on El Mala and implement only minor adjustments in the team's fight against relegation. Ahead of his debut, the 37-year-old stated that there's no need to "drastically change the team's character," as "the weekend's performance was mostly quite good. Therefore, it's not about major overhauls." Wagner hopes to gain "one or two percentage points" by focusing on "small details."
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