European Football in the second season!, told ya you could do it! And Francisco Trincao is a terrific player and probably bargain of the whole series for you so far! Well Done!
European football in the bag, but you can't let your concentration become weary just yet. A massive game to come. Bring it home!
A tremendous first season back in the Bundesliga finishing 7th and qualifying for the Europa league. As you said the upcoming final is a terrific opportunity and beating Bayern last month proves you can do it! Good luck!
We're there!!! Europe here we come just a season after a great promotion campaign, the Wolverhampton Wanderers of the Bundesliga 
Bayern celebrate DFB-Pokal success
A Robert Lewandowski inspired FC Bayern Munich side triumphed over a defiant 1. FC Köln, to lift the DFB-Pokal and celebrate a domestic double.
Whilst there was a widespread expectation for Bayern to lift the trophy by the end of the night, Köln certainly didn't go down without a fight. Managed by Austrian World Cup winning captain Max Kofler, the head-coach drew comparisons to the Austrian side who triumphed over Spain in Johannesburg, stating his side were labelled the "perennial underdogs" coming into the game at the Olympiastadion, similar to the Austrian team who defeated Spain in 2010.
Both sides enjoyed strong campaigns, domestically, with Bayern claiming a twenty-ninth Bundesliga title and Köln earning a place in the UEFA Europa League next season after finishing in seventh - despite only just returning to the top-flight after winning 2. Bundesliga last term.
In the last meeting between the two, held just two weeks before the final at the RheinEnergieStadion - home of Köln - the hosts overcame Bayern with a 2-1 victory, which sealed their place in the top seven. Francisco Trincão and Salih Özcan both got on the scoresheet, with Benjamin Pavard's header from a corner only proving to be just a consolation for the champions.
With both sides matching each other at half-time, with the scores still level at 0-0, it set up for an exciting second period. Both sides have the strongest defensive records in the Bundesliga - with Bayern conceding nineteen and Köln conceding twenty-six.
However, the deadlock was soon broken. Yet, it wasn't the side that many expected to take the lead who did. After seventy-two minutes, Louis Schaub knocked the ball over the top of the defence - allowing Denis Drăguș to beat the centre-back pairing of Mats Hummels and Jerome Boateng for pace - before the Romanian powered the ball past a helpless Manuel Neuer.
The atmosphere was palpable around the ground, as Effzeh continued to defend resolutely and the Bayern players continued to grow frustrated. With ten minutes left, however, a penalty was awarded through VAR. A low-cross from David Alaba met the head of Robert Lewandowski, who was adjudged to have been pushed by Svetozar Markovic. The prolific Polish international made no mistake from twelve-yards, sending Timo Horn the wrong way - sending the game into extra-time, as neither side could find a break through in the remaining nine minutes.
Just two minutes into extra-time, James Rodriguez attempted to hold the ball up from a throw-in by former Köln defender Jonas Hector. A clumsy challenge from Mario Pasalic resulted in a second penalty being awarded to Max Freund's side - with Robert Lewandowski scoring once again, to give Bayern the ascendancy in the final.
A downhearted and dejected Effzeh side continued to battle on, in search of an equaliser. But their task was over with eight minutes left to play, as Jonas Hector's effort was parried away by Timo Horn, only to fall kindly for Lewandowski as he captured a hat-trick and wrapped up the match, sending Bayern to their nineteenth DFB-Pokal title.
Max Freund was complimentary in his words after the game, noting that his side were fortunate to have won the game - whilst also praised Köln head-coach Max Kofler.
"Of course I am delighted to celebrate our victory, but I thought we were very fortunate today. Köln demonstrated their class over the course of ninety minutes - they were the better side, I would argue. They're managed by a terrific manager who has played the game at the highest level and can share his expertise with his players. I'm a huge fan of his and I believe he'll take this side far. They're fortunate to have him."
"With VAR now being used here in Germany, you have to be very careful in and around the box. Twelve months ago we wouldn't have been awarded those penalties, I don't think. That was the difference between us both tonight."
Meanwhile, Kofler congratulated Bayern on their victory.
"Bayern deserved their victory tonight, they battled well and demonstrated their class. They have a squad full of the world's elite players and it's difficult to compete with them. I thought we competed with them throughout the entire game, though, and I'm pleased with my players, despite our loss. The circumstances behind our loss means it's a bitter pill to swallow, but we'll learn from our mistakes and look to rectify them - we intend to regroup, and hopefully, we can find ourselves on this stage again.
Robert Lewandowski's hat-trick in the final resulted in him becoming the top-scorer throughout the entire tournament, scoring seven goals - followed by Köln forward Denis Drăguș on five. The 20-year-old scored in all five games he participated in, as Effzeh defeated Eintracht Braunschweig, SG Dynamo Dresden, 1. FSV Mainz 05, VfL Wolfsburg and TSG 1899 Hoffenheim en route to the final.
Replies
Maguire: Haha, it's a huge accomplishment! Trincao certainly proved to be a valuable asset in our efforts.
Justice: They gave it a good shot, but it wasn't enough, unfortunately.
LFC: Koln's cup final defeat can't take away what has been an amazing season, simply put!
Jack: The only difference being we were much more subtle in our transfer business.
Meh, Bayern are always going to be a tough obstacle in any attempt of winning a domestic trophy, you did well enough reaching the Final in the first place!
What a brilliant start at Köln, there will already be interest from others after a season this good!
A gutting way to lose a final with a VAR penalty sending it to extra time before a second penalty and then a tap in to seal the game. A very unfortunate result for a team who deserved much more. However, the season is still an undeniable success and one that Max can be very proud of.
It is good to take the positives. You kept pace with one of football's giants for a very long time. A few additions to the squad and it is ready to make another battle for trophies. European football will add its own positives and negatives, but you can take a minute to enjoy a successful season (I guess) 
Kofler extends deal until June 2023
1. FC Köln are delighted to announce that Max Kofler has signed a three-year deal which keeps him at the RheinEnergieStadion until June 2023.
The 40-year-old joined the club in June 2018, signing an initial one-year-deal to become our new head-coach after relegation from the Bundesliga. Kofler was tasked with guiding the club back to the top-flight immediately, resigning from his role as assistant manager to Franco Foda as part of the Austrian national team, to accept the role. After encouraging signs in January, with the club seemingly on course to fill this premise, he was handed a further year on his contract.
The Austrian later delivered the 2. Bundesliga title at the end of the season, prompting an immediate return to the Bundesliga as required. Our first year back resulted in further success for Kofler - guiding the club to a seventh-placed finish, enough for a place in the UEFA Europa League next season and also led the club to a runners-up medal in the DFB-Pokal.
With a heavy emphasis on building towards the future and a high volume of young players signed during his tenure, the club believe it was sufficient that Kofler was handed a further extension on his current deal to further exemplify the trust we have in him to continue progressing the talent at the club and further our ambitions towards the future.
Alexander Wehrle, the Club's President, stated: "Max has done a great job over the past two seasons and I was keen to ensure that we secured his commitment to us for the coming years. Just as stability on the business side of the club is important, so it is on the playing side."
"We have all bought into a shared vision of the club - one that we are all very much supportive of. Max has a keen eye for signing young, talented players - but players that are able to make an impact in the first-team squad almost immediately. There's been little room for error in his recruitment. His vision is one that makes the club attractive and appeals to players, who will recognise the vision we have."
"We continue to improve year-upon-year. In Max's first season at the club; the goal was clear. We expected promotion back to the Bundesliga. That was duly delivered. The second year, we wanted to stabilise ourselves back in top-flight. That was achieved, too, to great effect. Now, we find ourselves in Europe - with the task of guiding ourselves through the qualification stages, of course - but in European competition, regardless."
"Max has achieved things at the highest of levels and he has a taste for success. It drives him to want to succeed and he's now establishing himself as one of the brightest managerial prospects in Europe. There's a strong relationship and ethos between players, manager and fans, which is what a club like us enjoys. That is part of our identity."
"He's a hard-working individual who has made many sacrifices in his career. The results speak for his success. We are extremely fortunate to boast of someone with his managerial prowess and next season will be an important one in deciding where the football club heads from here. We have never shied away from supporting Max and this will continue to be the case - he has the tools to succeed and we know that we can trust him with them."
Kofler expressed his gratitude to the club and the supporters after signing his contract extension.
"I'm very thankful to be handed the opportunity to continue developing a squad of real talent. I'm very fond of this football club - the players, the supporters... they've all been fantastic and have all contributed to the tremendous amount of success we have extracted together."
"To be associated with a club like this and work with people every day who share this same feeling makes it special. We're professionals in the way we approach things, but ultimately, the taste of success is something which drives us and gives us that sense of satisfaction."
"Losing in the DFB-Pokal final was difficult for us, but we're determined to come back a stronger side and look to make that extra step. We've grown together and we'll continue to do so. We need to continue to work together in unison to spread the word and share our message that we're ready and we share a bright and prosperous future. We're on a fantastic journey, let's continue that."
Replies
Jack: Koln couldn't have asked for tougher opponents in the final, quite literally. Unfortunately, Bayern possess players that far outclass the rest of the division. Hopefully Max and his squad can bridge that gap further in the upcoming season.
Scouter: It was a fantastic season for the team. Interest will be there, but this contract extension is an indication that Max intends to remain in Cologne.
Maguire: Indeed. The squad can reflect on a fantastic run to the final and an impressive league campaign. There's no point reflecting on the negatives when there are so many positives to look back on fondly.
LFC: The manner of the goals were extremely unfortunate, but that's football. You have to accept that sometimes luck is on your side and other times it isn't. Max is a firm believer that you create your own luck.
Justice: That's certainly the case. It's easy to look at the score after the game and perhaps look upon it with negativity. But it's important to remember that Koln held the best side in the country for eighty minutes, whilst also taking the lead. The added pressures of European football is something which Max will have to contend with, but he knows the score from his playing days. It'll also allow a wider pool of players to become available, as they'll be tempted by the prospect of playing in some form of European tournament. There's certainly a sense of enthusiasm left over from last season!
A great reward for Max, who has now instilled stability for a yoyoing FC Koln in recent seasons, and FC Koln can now only surely look up the table, as Max has brought in a plethora of young talent during his tenure, who will only get better with time.
A new contract for Max is the least that the club can offer to show the gratitude necessary for a man who has dragged the club out of second-tier oblivion and back into the light of European football. Wonderful to see the project continuing further and knowing that Kofler isn't just happy with continental qualification!
Certainly well deserved for Max for everything he has accomplished at Koln. Hopefully the new contract sees the continuation of the successful start Max has had.
Very important for the club to tie down Kofler. It should keep any interested parties at bay. However, I'm sure some big clubs will still come sniffing for his name!
You are reading "Max Kofler: Die Revolution".
