The DFB-Pokal is now a matter of the past, as the 1. FC Köln players shifted their focus back to the Bundesliga. Two notable FC players were absent during Wednesday’s training session.

The FC players may be coming off a bitter exit in the DFB-Pokal, but there is little time to waste. The Bundesliga returns to action as 1. FC Köln travel to SC Freiburg for a 17:30 kick off on Sunday (12 February 2017). Following a day of regeneration on Wednesday, the FC players were back out on the field on Thursday. Missing in action were Artjoms Rudnevs, who is suffering from a cold, and Jonas Hector. The latter picked up a knock in the match against Hamburg and is listed as day-to-day.

Peter Stöger was able to provide some insight regarding the situation with Jonas Hector: “He is doing better. He has not trained because his body needs to recover right now. We will have to see whether he will be fit to play on Sunday.”

SC Freiburg are currently just one place behind 1. FC Köln in the Bundesliga standings. “It is rather surprising that we are directly in competition,” said Peter Stöger. The FC Head Coach also added that he is a “fan” of the work being carried out at Freiburg and the structure of the club.