Cologne defend back-five experiment but collapse after halftime in 1-0 defeat at Frankfurt
Wagner backs tactical switch despite second-half collapse
Cologne head coach René Wagner has explained the reasoning behind his team's surprise tactical switch ahead of Friday evening's 1-0 Bundesliga defeat away at Eintracht Frankfurt. The experiment produced encouraging results, but familiar problems resurfaced as Cologne surrendered control of the match after halftime.
The defeat brought Cologne's momentum following last weekend's 2-1 Rhein-Derby victory over Borussia Mönchengladbach to a sudden halt. Frankfurt, meanwhile, secured their first Bundesliga home victory since March thanks to Younes Ebnoutalib's 77th-minute winner.
Wagner reveals the plan
"The idea with the back-five was in the works for a long time," Wagner remarked at his post-match press conference. "It was something that fit for the Frankfurt game. We knew that we wanted to play with it today. It wasn't something that was a reaction from the Gladbach game or any other sort of development. We simply wanted to build the back five into our portfolio while we think that it's a good thing for us to be able to play more tactically flexible."
The adjustment was hardly without precedent. Wagner had already experimented with a three-man defensive line during the summer, and the formation proved particularly effective during the second half of a preseason friendly against Real Sociedad.
Friday's variation featured Joël Schmied, Jahmai Simpson-Pusey and Luka Lochoshvili in central defence. Cologne defended in a compact 5-3-2, with Linton Maina dropping deeper while wingbacks Borna Sosa and Sebastian Sebulonsen provided width. Wagner's team remain without their two principal centre-forward options, Ragnar Ache and Thijs Dallinga, due to injury.
The arrangement initially worked well. Frankfurt struggled to find space between the lines, while Marius Bülter and Said El Mala threatened on the counterattack. Bülter twice forced SGE keeper Noah Atubolu into important interventions, and El Mala narrowly missed the target after a spectacular 50-metre solo run shortly before halftime.
"Having an extra defender to defend the box in away matches helps us to defend the box better," Wagner explained. "For that reason, it was a step in our development to have a look if we can defend a little deeper in away matches and counter appropriately. We knew that Frankfurt had some problems in that regard."
A familiar problem returns after halftime
The encouraging opening period gave way to an increasingly passive second-half performance. Frankfurt took control after the restart, repeatedly recovering possession high up the pitch and forcing Cologne into extended periods of defending. The visitors struggled to create meaningful counterattacking opportunities, while the hosts generated several dangerous chances before Ebnoutalib broke the deadlock.
"Unfortunately, in the first 20 to 25 minutes after the restart, we weren't able to cause problems for Frankfurt," Wagner acknowledged. "During that phase we were simply stuck too deep."
The explanation bears a striking resemblance to difficulties Cologne encountered during September's 1-1 home draw against Werder Bremen, when both Linton Maina and Tom Krauß publicly criticised their team's inability to respond once Bremen began taking control. Friday's defeat offered another example of the same worrying pattern.
Players voice frustration
The frustration was evident in the reactions of Cologne's players. Speaking to Sky Germany after the match, Said El Mala claimed Frankfurt had looked almost completely beaten during the first half.
"Frankfurt suddenly became a little more aggressive and had even more motivation. Why? I don't know! They were totally dead!"
Goalkeeper Marvin Schwäbe was particularly critical of the defending that preceded Ebnoutalib's winner, suggesting that his teammates had effectively escorted Frankfurt's attackers toward goal rather than engaging them in challenges. He also acknowledged that Frankfurt improved while Cologne became increasingly passive.
Records and what comes next
The result extended Cologne's Bundesliga away winless streak to 16 matches. The club have also now conceded at least once in 20 consecutive league fixtures.
The back-five experiment need not be considered a failure. It demonstrated that the formation can provide a useful alternative to Cologne's established four-man defence, particularly when facing dangerous opponents away from home. The greater concern is that changing the system has not yet solved the club's recurring inability to maintain intensity and defensive organisation across an entire match. That remains the challenge confronting Wagner as his team prepare to host Schalke 04 next Saturday.