Steffen Baumgart takes over as the new coach at Union Berlin. Before the first training session with the team, he talked about his goals, his relationship with the club and the first steps.
Steffen Baumgart is the new boss on the Union Berlin sidelines. An old acquaintance: The 52-year-old played for the club for two years during his active career and also lives in Köpenick. During his introduction he talked about…
… his connection to Union Berlin
“Nobody has to introduce me to the club and the employees. I know most of them. There’s a bit of excitement, of course, but I’ve known many of the faces for a long time. I’m happy to be here.”
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… the call from Horst Heldt, Managing Director Professional football men of 1. FC Union
“Union Berlin wasn’t on my list. I also had one or two other conversations. It would have continued at the beginning of January. I was surprised when the call came, but some things happen quickly and are not planned.”
… his thoughts on the squad
“I find that difficult because then it’s always a question of: Who has to go? I think the squad is very well positioned. We should start with what we have. I also want to talk to the players. And then we’ll see. What do we expect? We have a very well-positioned squad that has everything to play intense football. We hope that we can get on track quickly.”
… the risk that his proximity to Union entails
“That which is the past is one thing. I played here for two years. From then on I was always very close to the club in everything. I lived in Köpenick. But what does risk mean? It can go for a long time and it can go for a very short time We’re not here because we see a risk, but rather we see an opportunity in the whole situation. I’m here to get things going again and I’m looking forward to the decision I’m rather skeptical and I share the decision Met with my family. Nobody is sad that I’m here now.”
… the decision for Union and against other clubs
“Let’s take a look at the development since I’ve been here. The club is well positioned. The goals and what should be created here indicate that it is a seasoned club in the Bundesliga. Not an underdog. It’s the first Club that approached me that was in the Champions League. If they are approached by a club like that, it’s hard to say no, regardless of my connection to Köpenick.
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… his goals with the team
“A Bundesliga coach for a Bundesliga team should define goals that look different than winning games? I want to win games. I want to play good football. Create scoring chances, get fewer goals in. Here in the stadium I know, where I go privately. The goal is to set this thing on fire.”
… his kind of football
“I’m known for being all about scoring goals. I didn’t always have the best defense, but I had good offenses. That’s what I stand for. For finding the way forward. So that you can set the house on fire because goals are scored.”
… a job rejection from the past, because he comes from the East
“It’s difficult for all of us, but this East-West will always exist. It would also be nice if we thought about the fact that we are one and not East and West. For me that is no longer the deciding factor. That was a one-off decision . Those who made that decision back then would have been happy if they had brought me in today.”
… the short one Preparation time with the team
“The team is in top shape and well positioned. Now we have to adjust little things so that we have self-confidence and find the way forward in order to want to win games. We don’t know whether we can play against Heidenheim [erstes Spiel der Rückrunde, Anm.d.Red.] are already successful, but we know where we want to go. I will clearly discuss this with the boys. The games I saw weren’t as bad as they were made out to be.”
… three-man or four-man chain
“The back four is important to me. The squad offers a lot, but it could very likely be the back four.”
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… his time as a player at Union
“When I came to Union, Christian was work [heute Pressesprecher, damals Stadionsprecher; Anm.d.Red.] still working in another job. When he heard I was coming, he said: ‘Shit, another old fart.’ I was brought in with a lot of skepticism. In my first game against Mainz I came in and made the first tackle on this beautiful little house. Marco Rose [heute Trainer von RB Leipzig; Anm. der Redaktion] was my victim. After that the whole block stood and then love was born that never went away.”
… the mental state of the players
“That’s what happens in sport when you don’t win seven or eight games. There are longer streaks. The boys are all coming back from vacation and are expecting a fresh start with a new coach. But it’s an experienced team. Nobody will be shaking. They I’m now getting to know the psychology that goes into this team. I’m not a psychologist, but I can deal well with the boys and get them to perform.”
… his first official acts
“I’m looking forward to Trimmi [Christopher Trimmel; Anm. d. Red.]. This is the first conversation – with the captain. I’m someone who tells a lot, who likes to talk, and that’s how the whole thing will develop. I will first greet the boys and set the direction for the next few days.”
… lessons from his last stations
“You should always learn lessons from the past. I had a very intensive time at HSV. I don’t see it as negatively as it is portrayed. I got a lot from HSV, I got a lot from Cologne and Paderborn [Baumgarts Trainerstationen vor dem HSV; Anm.d.Red.] taken away. All of this flows into my work at Union. I’m sure I’ve evolved. Anyone who knows me knows that I would rather be on the move than sit at home and think about something. I reflected a lot, it has nothing to do with HSV. And I hope I can bring a lot of that to this.”
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… player Laszlo Benes, who moved from HSV to Union in the summer
“I’m happy to work with him. He’s a very good footballer. I would have liked to keep him in Hamburg. I also told him that the path here wasn’t the right one. Now I would agree with him that it’s the right one is gone.” (laughs)
… the expectations of the fans
“It’s not that easy in the job. There’s a lot of nostalgia, a lot of hope. And of course I hope that we succeed. It’s about being successful here and not dwelling on nostalgia.”
… the work of his predecessor
“Bo Svensson managed to have the second-best defense in the league. That’s not the only thing you can build on – that’s the foundation. Nevertheless, it would be nice if we had one or two more chances to score and scored one or two more goals. But it’s not about which coaching approach is better.”
Broadcast: rbb24, January 2, 2024, 9:45 p.m
