"Klopp clone" Baumgart: The likeable volcano electrifies the league

It's amazing: At the weekend in Liverpool and Cologne, the two coaches Jürgen Klopp and Steffen Baumgart freaked out in a similar way when their teams were fouled.

"Klopp clone" Baumgart: The likeable volcano electrifies the league

It's amazing: At the weekend in Liverpool and Cologne, the two coaches Jürgen Klopp and Steffen Baumgart freaked out in a similar way when their teams were fouled. And indeed: the two successful trainers have one great strength in common!

"I won't be able to contain my emotions. That's just the way it is." After the home win over FC Augsburg, Cologne coach Steffen Baumgart briefly and succinctly described not only his eruptive outburst in the first half when, after a foul on one of his players, he yelled words in the direction of the Augsburg bench that "not the fine English way " (Baumgart) were - but also his very personal style, which again and again plays a large part in FC still shooting games that almost seemed lost.

Steffen Baumgart's demeanor is more and more reminiscent of Liverpool's successful coach Jürgen Klopp, who also didn't always have his emotions under control in the game against Manchester City this weekend - and was therefore even thrown off the pitch. It is also interesting that both showed emotions in situations that were probably of a secondary nature for many viewers of the two games in Cologne and Liverpool.

Because Baumgart and Klopp freaked out when foul games against their own team - and signaled their teams on the green lawn so (un)consciously that they were completely at their side. The special thing about Baumgart and Klopp: You completely believe that these feelings are authentic and not planned or even worse, played. And that is exactly the recipe for success of these two coaches.

If you talk to fans of 1. FC Köln these days, you can feel the deep emotional bond with their coach Steffen Baumgart. Despite three defeats in a row - including the derby smack at Borussia Mönchengladbach - there is hardly a word of criticism. And that, although Baumgart himself knows that the successes of the last season weigh heavily on his shoulders and that of the entire club: "Our biggest problem in Cologne is that we were too good last year and many people think it's possible so on. Now we have a phase where we have to work our way out." But the trust in Baumgart is great. And that's not just because after the win against FC Augsburg the club is ahead of BVB with 16 points after ten games and is within easy reach of the European ranks.

The emotions that Steffen Baumgart shows on the sidelines not only help his players on the pitch in difficult situations, but also indirectly create an invisible bond between him and the fans in the stands. In a nutshell: His style is well received - because it is undisguised and honest. And the FC supporters notice that. He lives his now legendary sentence - "A game is only over when the referee whistles and I stop shouting" - with every fiber of his body. Every fan would like to have such a coach for their club. A coach with whom you can endure a game together and, ideally, celebrate the victory together afterwards.

And it distinguishes Steffen Baumgart that after his direct and harsh words in the direction of the Augsburg bank ("Sit down. Shut up!"), he doesn't squirm and excuses himself, but apologizes in a typical Baumgart manner ("If it was too much for one, I'm sorry"), but in the same breath doesn't promise something that he won't be able to keep in the future. Because he knows: "It's often the case with me."

This sincerity will also carry him through any difficult days ahead in Cologne - because the squad and the entire club are probably only at the beginning of a positive development. But whether, like Klopp in Dortmund and Liverpool, he actually has the sporting skills to bring a club to the forefront will only be seen in the future. Until then, however, he can be sure that the supporters of 1. FC Köln will forgive him many more "result crises" (Baumgart). And that's a good thing - because it's well deserved.