El Mala’s Header Goal Earns Köln a Point in Hamburg, Amidst Reports of Tensions with Coach

Hamburg, Germany – Said El Mala scored his ninth goal of the season, and his first with a header, to secure a 1-1 draw for 1. FC Köln against Hamburger SV on Saturday. The goal, coming just before halftime, was a result of Köln’s focused work on set pieces, according to both El Mala and coach Lukas Kwasniok.

Strategic Set Piece Pays Off

El Mala’s goal came off a corner kick, with a header at the far post following a flick-on from teammate Rav van den Berg. Kwasniok described the goal as a “co-trainer’s goal,” emphasizing the team’s preparation. “The executing power was Said, running through at the second post. But money is made at the second post – especially on corners. These are simple goals. And Said relied on the co-trainer and implemented 100 percent what we trained and what was said: run through!”

El Mala confirmed the team had specifically targeted Hamburger SV’s weakness on the second post during corner kicks. “We knew that Hamburg wasn’t so strong on the second post and we trained for that,” he said. “For me, it was easy. I just had to get my head to it at the end.”

Kwasniok Manages El Mala’s Workload

Despite his impressive form, El Mala continues to be a substitute for Köln, coming on in the 66th minute against Hamburg. Kwasniok explained this is due to managing the 19-year-aged’s workload, particularly after El Mala experienced thigh problems during the week. “I said when I started working with the boy, I will seize care of him. And if I had let him play from the beginning or for 45 minutes – then he would have broken down. Then I wouldn’t have been happy,” Kwasniok stated. He added that El Mala was unable to complete a single sprint during training this week, limiting him to 30 minutes of play.

Reported Tension with Coach

Recent reports from Bulinews.com and Express.de suggest a strained relationship between El Mala, and Kwasniok. The reports indicate El Mala has informed club officials he could envision a summer move to Brighton & Hove Albion. Issues contributing to the tension include public comments, misunderstandings, and El Mala’s desire for more starting opportunities. Despite this, El Mala reportedly respects Kwasniok’s decisions and doesn’t want to disrupt team harmony.

Looking Ahead to the Derby

Köln will face Borussia Mönchengladbach in a derby match on Saturday, March 21st. El Mala expressed optimism after the draw in Hamburg, stating, “We can take a lot with us from the performance in Hamburg. We know what awaits us. But we have a home game. With the fans at our backs, we want to supply everything again and hopefully get three points.”