Köln head coach guarantees start for struggling Turkish international Cenk Özkacar against Bayern Munich

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Köln head coach Lukas Kwasniok has delivered another piece of surprising personnel news. Just two days after his questionable personnel selections placed left him adopting a defensive posture at a post-match press conference,Kwasniok is doubling down on his peculiar decisions. At his Tuesday pre-match press conference, Kwasniok personally guaranteed a start for struggling centre-back Cenk Özkacar in tomorrow’s Bundesliga fixture against the mighty Bayern Munich.

Why is Cenk Özkacar struggling?

The summer loan signing has only logged 376 minutes of Bundesliga action this season despite the fact that injuries have ravaged the Kölner central defensive corps Heading into the current January transfer window, it appeared very likely that Özkacar’s loan deal with Valencia would be terminated early. Özkacar has looked poor in his four Bundesliga starts, never once playing the full 90 minutes. The 25-year-old last featured in Kwasniok’s XI in late November. 

Kwasniok moved midfielder Eric Martel and wingback Sebastian Sebulonsen into the back-three for Saturday’s Bundesliga fixture against Heidenheim. New Man City signing Jahmai Simpson-Pusey was also given a cold start. Simpson-Pusey’s selection proved to be one of the decisions Kwasniok found himself defending during his rambling post-match press conference.

At the Tuesday press conference, Kwasniok explained that ailments affected Özkacar’s ability to go the distance in matches. Problems with full body cramps have plagued the nine-times-capped Turkish international.  The Kölner head coach nevertheless plans to take the risk against his heavily-favored opponent tomorrow. 

Özkacar prepares to reverse his fortunes

“When he [Özkacar] starts, he gets full-body cramps,” Kwasniok explained on Tuesday. “That’s not because he’s not fit, but because Cenk gives his all and tenses up so much that his whole body cramps up. He doesn’t start that often because we need players who can go the full 90 minutes. Cenk has delivered from the bench when needed and also stood his ground in some of his starts. 

“Against Heidenheim, I preferred Jahmai [Simpson-Pusey] for his footballing ability,” Kwasniok continued. “Against Bayern, we won’t have the ball as often. It’s such that Cenk will start and get his chance to prove himself.”

GGFN | Peter Weis