“It wasn’t easy”: René Wagner reacts to cagey affair against St. Pauli | OneFootball

Köln were forced to settle for a point on Friday evening after falling behind to Karol Mets, only for the defender to later hand Die Geißböcke a route back into the match by bringing down Jakub Kamiński in the box. Luca Waldschmidt converted from the spot to ensure René Wagner’s side avoided defeat.

Wagner highlighted the importance of his goalkeeper’s contribution, particularly a crucial save to deny Andreas Hountondji midway through the first half:

“We got into the game well in the first 10 minutes, but then relied too much on long balls. Overall, we defended solidly. Marvin made a really important save.”

Köln struggled to establish control before the break, with St. Pauli’s high press isolating their forwards and forcing a direct approach that proved largely ineffective:

“We didn’t manage to keep the ball up front in the first half. We lacked control and structure completely. That wasn’t the plan at all,” Wagner admitted.

After St. Pauli eventually made their pressure count in the second half, Wagner was pleased with his team’s resilience in responding to going behind:

“Then we conceded after the break. But a big compliment to my team - we showed character again and found a way back into the game.”

Alexander Blessin’s side continued to limit space and frustrate Köln, executing their game plan effectively - something Wagner was quick to acknowledge:

“The opponent defended superbly and kept the spaces very tight. It was extremely difficult for us to find solutions today.”

Ultimately, Köln’s persistence paid off as Waldschmidt’s penalty - won by Kamiński - earned a valuable point, with Wagner singling out the Polish winger for special praise:

“He’s an incredibly important player for us. Kuba gives everything for the team every single week.”