FC Köln head coach Lukas Kwasniok reached his breaking point during a recent pre-match press conference, visibly frustrated by persistent media inquiries about rising star Said El Mala. Journalists have frequently sought sensational soundbites regarding the 19-year-old throughout the season, a trend Kwasniok now finds exhausting, feeling pressured to constantly generate headlines. The press conference featured a particularly poignant exchange.
El Mala Prepares for Reunion with Former Club
This weekend, Köln is set to host fierce rivals Borussia Mönchengladbach in the highly anticipated “Rhein-derby” at the RheinEnergieStadion. This fixture currently stands as the most intense rivalry in German top-flight football, especially with the absence of the classic “Revierderby” due to Schalke’s presence in the 2. Bundesliga.
For Said El Mala, this match offers a second chance this season to confront his former academy team. A strong desire for vindication likely fuels the young talent, particularly given that current Gladbach coach Eugen Polanski was the one who previously deemed El Mala unsuitable for a first-team future at BMG. El Mala’s previous outing against Gladbach in early November saw him substituted early after an unconvincing first half.
Kwasniok Challenges Journalistic Practices
During the 30-minute press conference, Kwasniok was subjected to seven questions specifically about El Mala. Initially, two questions concerned the player’s fitness for the upcoming Bundesliga clash. However, after fielding five more inquiries about El Mala’s German national team non-nomination and transfer speculations linking him to Brighton this summer, Kwasniok’s patience finally snapped.
“As you’ve all observed, I’ve been careful with my words up until now,” Kwasniok retorted in response to the seventh question. “Soon enough, you’ll corner me. You’re all trying to bait me into a provocative statement. Everyone’s attempting to provoke me. Lille [the 1. FC Köln press officer] should probably step in and end this.”
Kwasniok continued, addressing the reporters directly: “I fully grasp that it’s your profession to create buzz and stir things up. But to express this frankly, what’s happening with 18 and 19-year-old footballers today is simply perverse; the immense pressures they face. I believe we are stripping them of all the joy they find in their passion.”
“Said loves playing football and has a passion for dribbling,” Kwasniok concluded. “You might have noticed in recent games that he’s been working incredibly hard, but dribbling less. All of you share some responsibility for taking that away from him. That’s my personal perspective.”
