It was clear to every Unioner that it would be more difficult without Max Kruse (33). But the hole that his move to Wolfsburg tore is bigger than expected! In the end, will it even cost Europe?
The Irons fell out of the European Cup ranks after the 0:3 against Dortmund. While Kruse celebrated two wins at VfL, Union lost both games without him. Coach Urs Fischer (55) currently does not know where to start first.
► The lightness, momentum and euphoria that carried Union through the first games in 2022 are gone. The sale of their “difference player” hit the team. There is currently no one in sight who scores a goal out of nowhere like Kruse. Like the victory before Christmas in Bochum (1-0 / goal Kruse) or the last three in Gladbach (2-1 / brace Kruse).
► Fischer would be happy if he even had someone to score. Both in Augsburg (0: 2) and Sunday against BVB, the zero was on the wrong side. Top scorer Taiwo Awonyi (24/nine goals this season) is struggling after the Africa Cup of Nations and can hardly finish. Fischer: “You notice a bit that he was gone for a long time.”
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► Newcomer Sven Michel (31 / Paderborn) indicated his cleverness against Dortmund. But Fischer knows: “Sven is still missing a bit of the bond.” Defensive stability has always been the Union’s success foundation in the football upper house. But in the last five Bundesliga games, the Fischer team has never kept a clean sheet!
Not enough: For the first time since his arrival in summer 2020, Robin Knoche (29/5 yellow) is out. He was an unbelievable 69 competitive games in a row in the starting XI. Defense chief Sonnabend is now suspended in Bielefeld. Another hole that Union needs to close.