Union Berlin has to get out of the crisis. After seven competitive defeats in a row, things should turn around against VfB Stuttgart.
Robin Gosens and Kevin Behrens went into recovery mode after the strenuous trip to the USA, and coach Urs Fischer prescribed an extra dose of rest for his national players who had just landed on Thursday. After all, the coach needs the whirlwind and the storm tank to be fresh and fresh on Saturday in order to finally get Union Berlin out of the crisis.
In order for his team to break its seven-game losing streak against second-placed VfB Stuttgart (3:30 p.m./Sky), Fischer made the seriousness of the situation clear to him. “In recent years we have always used the words ‘surreal’ and ‘madness’. Maybe now we have to use the word ‘reality’. We have also spoken about that clearly. The aim is to get 40 points. That is always still our goal.”
An important building block in the Union puzzle are DFB debutant Behrens and Gosens, whose appearance against Stuttgart initially seemed questionable after the international trip. Against Mexico (2:2), the left-back was substituted on Wednesday night with muscular problems. Fischer took Gosens aside immediately after his return and assured: “It looks good. He will regenerate. The same applies to Kevin Behrens because it was a long journey back.”
Union Berlin hopes for a liberation
In order to achieve the “liberation strike” that Fischer is aiming for, the Berliners have to somehow stop VfB, which has been plowing through the Bundesliga victoriously for five games. And of course top striker Serhou Guirassy, who achieved the feat of scoring 13 goals in seven league games. Fischer described the 27-year-old as a “difference player” who currently has the “nose” to stand correctly at the right moment. “An individual won’t be able to defend him,” said the coach: “It’s important to do this collectively.”
The return of two sorely missed regular employees could help. As Fischer announced at the press conference on Thursday, midfield anchor Rani Khedira and defender Robin Knoche are again alternatives for the squad. Both had returned to training the previous week after Knoche had been out injured since mid-September and Khedira had been out injured since August.
Without the duo, Union lacked a clear axis, which meant that the Berliners lacked the stability they needed as soon as a game was on the line. “They were two absolute leaders and regulars. But they weren’t available and I don’t want to use that as an excuse,” said Fischer. Now it’s time to “get a framework,” said the Swiss: “If you have a framework, you’ll be stable on the pitch. That’s what you need to work on now.” This is the only way out of the crisis.