Cologne coach Frank Schafer wants to let the actions of his side speak louder than his words as he officially took the reins at the club today.

Schafer has been employed on an interim basis following the sacking of Zvonimir Soldo yesterday and he faced the media for the first time today to lay out his plans for tomorrow's DFB-Pokal clash with 1860 Munich.

"I am taking this challenge with courage and decisiveness," he declared. "The way I see the coaching role is not to use any big words, but to find the solutions with substance."

I am part of Cologne and Cologne, both the club and the city, is part of me.
Frank Schafer, Cologne coach

Schafer has been promoted from his former position as coach of the club's youth team and, after 19 years in various coaching positions at the club, he is now ready to take on the ultimate challenge.

And he believes his background with the club can help bring the fans back on the team's side.

"They have got to understand that we are starting from scratch and I would like it if they can make a fantastic atmosphere in the stadium tomorrow," he said.

"I am part of Cologne and Cologne, both the club and the city, is part of me."

Schafer could keep the job on a long-term basis, if he can turn around the club's fortunes, according to president Wolfgang Overath.

"Frank Schafer has worked well here and has done a good job with the youth team," he said on the club's website.

"He will be given a chance to start off as our caretaker-manager, and then we will see how things go with him."