Berlin (AP) – Sven Michel still had to discuss something. Union Berlin’s Superjoker spoke intensively to referee Patrick Ittrich after the final whistle. On the pitch, the striker once again needed less time to sort out really important things.
128 seconds were stopped between Michel’s substitution (70th minute) and his equalizer (72nd) to make it 1-1 against bottom and relegated SpVgg Greuther Fürth.
Again Michel, again shortly after stepping onto the lawn, as in the 2-1 win over RB Leipzig (22 seconds) and the 4-1 win over Hertha BSC (139 seconds). Three joker goals in three of the last four league games for the Irons. The 31-year-old is simply amazingly quick on the spot. His simple explanation: “Either you have it or you don’t have it,” said Michel, who came to Berlin from Paderborn in the winter and must first find his fulfillment in the perfected Joker role.
Captain Christopher Trimmel confirmed the thesis, which sounded somewhat self-absorbed, of the striker, who was becoming more and more blossoming with the Berlin Bundesliga team. “You need the feeling, he has that,” said the Austrian about Michel. And coach Urs Fischer just thinks it’s good that he has a striker who is “ready for the point.”
It didn’t fit the front or the back
The Irons were not ready for the point against the relegated from Fürth and the epistemology remained modest even after this maximally staid football evening. It just didn’t fit Union at the back and front. The goal by Branimir Hrgota (33rd) was also totally carelessly given away.
Acute suspicion: The brace in Leipzig with the end in the cup semifinals (1: 2) and Michel’s triumphant last-minute victory in the league game (2: 1) was too much for the head. “We know that we won’t march through the whole season,” said Trimmel.
Fischer thanked a questioner for reminding him that with 51 points after 32 games, a club record was set. And the topic of the European Cup is still relevant for the Irons – although two points were given away and the competition from Freiburg (52 points), Cologne (49) and Hoffenheim (46) move up on Saturday or move up from the bottom of the sixth place in the table can. “We have everything in our own hands. I’m convinced that we can still make Europe,” said Michel.