Baumgart Offers Köln Coach 'Golden Advice' Ahead of Union Berlin Reunion

In the lead-up to Sunday's Bundesliga match between 1. FC Union Berlin and 1. FC Köln — kicking off at 15:30 at the Alte Försterei — former Union Berlin head coach Steffen Baumgart telephoned his long-time assistant René Wagner, now manager of 1. FC Köln. "From Steffen there are always many golden pieces of advice," Wagner told reporters on Friday. The two men have worked together at multiple clubs over the years, including Paderborn, Cologne, Hamburg and Union Berlin. The phone call came after Köln's emphatic 5–0 DFB-Pokal victory over Union on Tuesday, a result that eased pressure on Wagner following a disappointing goalless Bundesliga draw against Schalke 04 three days earlier. Baumgart had already publicly backed Wagner ahead of the cup tie, telling the Kölner Express: "He is an absolute thoroughbred coach who does his job with passion," and defending him against criticism by suggesting much of it had nothing to do with Wagner personally. Baumgart has deep ties to both clubs — he guided Köln from near-relegation to Europa League qualification, and has been a Union member since his playing days, still living close to the Alte Försterei.