Mikey Moore ready for first Rhein derby: “Everybody told me this is the big one.”

Mikey Moore ready for first Rhein derby: “Everybody told me this is the big one.” Tottenham loanee Mikey Moore has needed little introduction to the significance of Cologne’s forthcoming Bundesliga Rhein derby against Borussia Mönchengladbach. The 19-year-old is preparing for his first taste of the historic rivalry after quickly being informed just how much the fixture means upon his summer arrival in Germany. “When I first joined, everyone said this is the big one,” Moore told reporters from the sidelines of Cologne’s training pitch. “I’ve been waiting for this and as soon as I got back in from the [international] break, we’ve spoken about it and how big a game it is. So I’m ready to play in it [and] hopefully help the team with a goal.” The timing lends Sunday’s meeting additional importance for both sides. Cologne entered the international break with four points from their opening four league fixtures and have produced encouraging stretches of football under René Wagner without consistently turning performances into results. As Get German Football News examined after the recent defeat in Hamburg , familiar set-piece problems and wasteful finishing have continued to cost Wagner’s side. The break then supplied another considerable setback. Thijs Dallinga and Ragnar Ache both suffered injuries in a friendly against Viktoria Köln , leaving the Bundesliga outfit without their two primary center-forward options for the derby. That naturally places still more attacking responsibility on the likes of Moore and Said El Mala. Gladbach arrive with problems of their own. The Foals lost all four of their opening Bundesliga fixtures, conceded 16 goals and responded by replacing Eugen Polanski with Alexander Blessin. The former St. Pauli trainer has had the international break to begin addressing those issues and, as GGFN covered following his introductory press conference , begins his new assignment with one of the most emotionally charged fixtures available to him. Mikey Moore eager to develop El Mala partnership Wagner has already indicated that supporters should expect to see Moore and El Mala together more frequently despite the pair initially rotating in similar attacking areas. Moore appears equally enthusiastic about their especially tantalizing potential partnership . “Yeah, it’s really nice to play with such a good player,” Moore said when asked about El Mala. “And he’s a good guy as well. Hopefully me and him can start clicking in the next few weeks and help each other perform better.” Moore, for his part, was reluctant to indulge in too much derby forecasting. “I don’t want to make too many predictions,” the England youth international said. “I hope we can get a win and I hope that maybe I’ll score. So, we’ll say that for now.” GGFN  |  Peter Weis