‘Sometimes Unpopular Measures Are Necessary’ – FC Koln Boss on Harambee Stars Prospect Linton Maina’s Bundesliga Struggles

Linton Maina was one of the biggest reasons Koln secured promotion back to the top flight by providing ten 2.Bundesliga assists, but has struggled to replicate that form in the Bundesliga.

Just months after helping FC Koln secure their long-awaited return to the Bundesliga, Linton Maina now finds himself fighting for minutes in Germany’s top flight. 

The Kenyan-eligible winger, once a central figure in Koln’s promotion campaign, has recently slipped down the pecking order—a situation head coach Lukas Kwasniok insists is deliberate and driven by tough love.

Maina was a key part of the team that sealed promotion in May, even assisting the decisive goal in a 4-0 victory over Kaiserslautern, before signing a contract extension amid celebrations.

 Yet, the new Bundesliga season has presented a harsh contrast: just four appearances so far, as new arrivals Jakub Kaminski from Wolfsburg and Said El Mala—returning from a loan spell at Viktoria Koln—have taken his place.

After a 3-3 draw in Wolfsburg, Sporting Director Thomas Kessler tried to cool speculation about Maina’s absence, saying, “The coach is spoiled for choice. It’s certainly a very, very tough decision.”

But for Kwasniok, leaving Maina out was a calculated decision. The coach admits he has a strong relationship with the winger, but insists the player has yet to reach his full potential.

“I can say with full conviction that I have a great relationship with Linton,” Kwasniok told Kicker. “But I’m certain he’s not at his personal limit.”

The manager pointed out that while Maina was instrumental in the 2. Bundesliga, the demands of the top tier require another level of performance. His decision to sideline the player, he said, was part of a strategy to push him harder.

“To get the best out of a player, sometimes unpopular measures are necessary,” Kwasniok explained. “We want to squeeze every last drop of Bundesliga quality out of him.”

He referenced midfielder Denis Huseinbasic, who responded positively to a similar challenge earlier in the season—returning to the starting XI after a spell out of the squad and impressing in training.

Signs are now emerging that Maina may soon regain his place. Kwasniok has shifted to a more supportive tone in recent weeks, suggesting that the winger’s response in training has been encouraging.

“I’ll be damned if I let him fall by the wayside,” the coach said.

For a player with dual heritage and a potential future with the Harambee Stars, Maina’s situation in Cologne could become a turning point. His coach’s tough-love approach may yet reignite the same fire that made him a promotion hero just a few months ago.