DFB Cup show against Cologne: Expensive storm jewel delights FC Bayern

He's coming as a player for the future, but Mathys Tel is already doing surprisingly well in Bayern's star ensemble.

DFB Cup show against Cologne: Expensive storm jewel delights FC Bayern

He's coming as a player for the future, but Mathys Tel is already doing surprisingly well in Bayern's star ensemble. In his debut as a starter in the cup, he scored and otherwise impressed. It was important for his development that his colleagues "run in".

In the first few weeks, Julian Nagelsmann said late on Wednesday evening, Mathys Tel "sometimes overdid it". The 17-year-old wanted to show himself in training with the top stars of FC Bayern Munich. He "showed a lot of courage, which I like," said Nagelsmann. But he was so reluctant to play the ball. "Fortunately, the team hygiene is so good that he got a run-in when he didn't play," said Nagelsmann after the 5-0 win in the first round game of the DFB Cup at Viktoria Köln and was happy about the quick learning effect: " There's no reason to complain today. He never overdid it, played very seriously, scored a beautiful goal and had a great defensive position when he ran 40 meters back."

All in all a good package, with which the teenager has recommended and positioned himself for further assignments. "He's an investment for the future," said the coach: "It's not that easy to become a regular at Bayern at the age of 17. But we need him, that's why we got him." The Bavarians should allow the services of the exceptional talent to cost up to 30 million euros. On Wednesday night, he hinted at why. Hasan Salihamidžić's eyes light up when he talks about the boy. "He burns every day, works hard and has all the prerequisites. If he continues like this, he has a great future ahead of him."

Salihamidžić assured him that he would "carefully build it up". But the head of sport, who came through the hiring himself as a player, likes the enthusiasm of the talent above all. "He has an innate footballing class. But he's also very ambitious, greedy and hard-working. He also trains on non-training days. We like to see that. Especially with someone who is such a great talent." And even if there is still a long way to go to the regular place, the jewel, which was substituted on the first two matchdays, is an interesting alternative now. "In the beginning he tried a lot," said Nagelsmann: "Now he has a good balance."

Tel was the outstanding figure in FC Bayern's "B-Elf" with newcomers Ryan Gravenberch and Noussair Mazraoui, with Sven Ulreich in goal and Josip Stanisic. And despite the big rotation, the team worked well in the sold-out RheinEnergie Stadium (actually the home ground of 1. FC Köln), only the first 20 minutes were a bit choppy. The fact that it was 5-0 in the end was befitting, but it also brought relief to the hosts. Coach Olaf Janssen made an unusual confession after the game. "I'll be honest: I have a queasy feeling about the game," said the ex-professional. "I thought there could be 15 or 20 against Bayern without you being able to do anything about it."

He and his team, in which the young goalkeeper Ben Voll in particular attracted attention with numerous top saves, felt like "winners". Especially since the Munich team took the game seriously until the end. "I'm really happy that Bayern didn't feel sorry for us. Everyone saw how much they wanted to be there." Bundesliga competitors such as Eintracht Frankfurt (1: 6) or VfL Bochum (0: 7) had it much harder against the enthusiastic record champions. Cologne's sports director Franz Wunderlich saw it that way too. "I have to be honest: If someone had told me beforehand that we'd get five, I would have taken it immediately. You have to be realistic. You just have to look at what they've substituted. One ICE goes out and the next ICE is coming in. That's why we sold well, also in terms of earnings."