Overview
- Both Said El Mala and Thijs Dallinga missed training on Wednesday and again on Thursday and were judged unlikely to travel for Köln’s Friday game in Stuttgart.
- El Mala is being treated for a heavy cold while Dallinga is sidelined with a stomach illness, and the club kept them off the team bus to limit any risk of contagion.
- Coach René Wagner named short-term covers including Ragnar Ache in the center and options such as Linton Maina and new signing Mikey Moore on the wings, with full-backs Borna Sosa and midfielder Ellyes Skhiri also available.
- Bundesliga coverage noted that Jürgen Klopp attended the Stuttgart match, meaning El Mala missed a live opportunity to showcase himself to the new Germany coach ahead of upcoming international calls.
- El Mala is a 20-year-old breakout talent who scored in Köln’s season opener and now faces a gap before his next chance to impress the national staff at Köln’s 12 September home game, while the club tests its squad depth this week.