Union Berlin is looking for a new goal after reaching the 40-point mark. At the end of the season, this can only be the European Cup.
Urs Fischer maintained his iron restraint. The Union Berlin coach hesitantly accepted congratulations on staying up in the league after reaching the 40-point mark in the Bundesliga. However, the Swiss did not announce the attack on the European Cup for a long time. “We will sit down and define a realistic goal,” said Fischer simply.
The renewed qualification for international business would be such. The Berliners have 41 points after the hard-fought 1-0 (0-0) win over 1. FC Köln. In the preseason, when Union reached the Conference League in seventh place, 50 points was enough. This number, said Fischer, “I could imagine.”
The game plan suits Union. Three home games, two of them against newly promoted VfL Bochum and SpVgg Greuther Fürth, are still on the program at the end of the season. In addition, there is the derby at the ailing city rivals Hertha BSC next Saturday in the Olympic Stadium.
The fans should prove to be a bargaining chip. Against Cologne, the An der Alten Försterei stadium was sold out for the first time since November with 22,012 spectators – and more than lived up to its reputation as a cauldron. “It’s a different force again,” said Fischer: “In such a tight game it just helps when you have full support behind you.”
Participation in the European Cup would also help with the further development of the cup semi-finalists. The successes of the current season have been achieved despite ongoing upheaval. Top performers such as Robert Andrich, Marvin Friedrich and Max Kruse left the club.
Defense boss Robin Knoche, who was again convincing against Cologne, extended his contract on Friday, but further prominent departures are to be expected in the summer. Attacker Taiwo Awoniyi, who scored the winning goal after a blunder by Cologne captain Jonas Hector (49′), is said to be flirting with a return to England.
The Premier League is the declared dream of the Nigerian, who moved to Berlin from Liverpool FC. Several clubs are said to be interested in signing given the strong performances in the Bundesliga. The transfer fee is said to be 30 million euros. “It’s a nice sum, you have to say that for us it would be a departure into a whole new dimension,” said Managing Director Oliver Ruhnert at “DAZN”.
1. FC Köln “a bit disappointed”
Despite the setback in the old home of coach Steffen Baumgart, 1. FC Köln can still hope for Europe. With 40 points, FC is close behind Union. Mistakes like the game-decisive blackout by ex-national player Hector, who put up the goal for Awoniyi with a completely unsuccessful back pass to goalkeeper Marvin Schwäbe, have to be remedied.
“Everyone can imagine that we are a bit disappointed,” said Baumgart. The coach expressly defended Hector: “We lost through a mistake that can happen.”