Lift off for René Wagner at Cologne after crucial Werder Bremen win
Cologne have moved clear of the relegation battle following their 3-1 home victory against Bremen. For head coach René Wagner, it was a clear sign that his methods are baring fruit.
In defeating Werder Bremen 3-1 on Matchday 29, Cologne have arrested a slump in form that threatened to unravel their Bundesliga season. The man credited with turning around the Rhineland club's fortunes is interim head coach René Wagner, whose impact has been immediate. Succeeding Lukas Kwasniok following his dismissal last month, Wagner was tasked with steering the club away from the relegation zone.
That didn't look like a particularly straight-forward task either, given that Cologne were on a run of seven matches without a win at the time of his appointment. Nevertheless, in his first game as interim boss, Wagner made a raft of late substitutions that showcased his managerial credentials and helped Cologne pick up a valuable point at Eintracht Frankfurt in the process.
Watch: Eintracht Frankfurt 2-2 Cologne
Indeed, it proved to be a well-timed confidence booster ahead of the relegation six-pointer against Bremen. In what was Wagner's second game in charge, the Billy Goats exploded out of the blocks, taking the game to Daniel Thioune's side from the outset, and forcing them into crucial errors. The raw numbers underline Cologne's dominance against Bremen: 21 shots to five, 10 efforts on target to two. But more telling was the manner of the performance.
Watch: Cologne 3-1 Werder Bremen
Wagner stated in the aftermath, "Great praise to my team. I'm overjoyed with my players, who put in a good performance today. Even with an extra man, we didn't always have absolute security with the ball. It's about giving the lads confidence in those phases. The win should give the team confidence for the upcoming challenges."
Even when Bremen briefly threatened to mount a comeback, Cologne didn't retreat into their shell. Instead, they continued to play forward, culminating in a stoppage-time own goal that sealed a deserved win. Two games into Wagner’s tenure, improvement is clear for all to see.
No player better has benefited more from this shift in style than Saïd El Mala. Under former coach Kwasniok, the 19-year-old was often deployed as a high-impact substitute - and an effective one at that. El Mala registered four goals and three assists from the bench this season, becoming Cologne's most productive super sub. Yet, as his team's top goalscorer, it is perhaps surprising that he started just 13 of the 27 Bundesliga games under Kwasniok.
Wagner, by contrast, appears ready to build around the prodigiously talented teenager. Selected in the starting XI against Bremen after a minor injury scare, El Mala needed just seven minutes to justify that faith, converting an early penalty and setting the tone for Cologne's performance. "Said [El Mala] felt good before the penalty kick, and that's why he took it. I'm happy that he rewarded himself with the goal," Wagner said of the German Under-21 international's performance.
But it was his all-round contribution that stood out even more. Operating with freedom across the frontline, he offered pace, directness and a constant willingness to take defenders on. Unsurprisingly, he was voted Man of the Match for his eye-catching display. Contrary to saving El Mala as a late-game weapon, Cologne are now structuring their attack around his unpredictability in the final third.
Frequently, Kwasniok’s Cologne had relied on moments - often from El Mala - to stay competitive. Wagner’s early blueprint suggests something altogether different. That shift is still in its infancy, but the early indicators are promising.
Performances have improved across both of Wagner’s opening matches, and now the results have followed. For Cologne, still not fully out of the relegation scrap, that combination could prove decisive as we head into the business end of the season.
Related news
Cologne defeat relegation rivals Bremen
Bremen had to play most of the game without captain Marco Friedl, who was sent off in the first half.
Rhine rivals face pivotal survival clash
There is so much at stake in the Bundesliga's 100th Rhine derby between Cologne and Gladbach...
El Mala the face of new Topps Chrome® collection
Football fans and collectors have been waiting for this moment: just in time for the season finale, the new Bundesliga Topps Chrome® 2025/26 collection is now available at hobby stores and online at topps.com.