Union Berlin: Ruhnert about staying in the league, squad and coach Bjelica

Talks about planning for 2024/25

Oliver Ruhnert has left his future at Union Berlin a little open beyond the current season. “I am planning the 2024/25 season just as intensively as in previous years. “But I can’t say what will happen in football in five months,” explained the sports director (quoted via “Bild”) on Wednesday. “We’ll do a season and then talk more. “This is a relationship that we have had over the last four years,” said Ruhnert, who has been in office since May 2018, cautiously.

The 52-year-old can currently set the course for relegation in the Bundesliga given the stabilization process under new coach Nenad Bjelica, but is thinking about all eventualities. After 21 match days, the Iron Men are in 15th place and are in the middle of a relegation battle, but are five points ahead of 1. FC Köln (16th) and nine ahead of Mainz 05 (17th) and Darmstadt 98 (18th).

“All plans are underway here for another season in the Bundesliga, but also for the worst case,” revealed Ruhnert, who is not assuming the worst case scenario. “We are currently experiencing what Union Berlin normally represents: the fight to stay in the league.” By deadline day on February 1st, the Köpenick team had added Yorbe Vertessen, Chris Bedia and Kevin Vogt. From Ruhnert’s point of view, the correct and necessary improvements.

“We only managed to do things in the squad in the winter that we wanted to do in the summer. The transfers didn’t do 100 percent what they were supposed to do,” said the manager. “If we look at the squad, we have a good core for the new season. We have a lot of regular players under contract. There are good options for developing this squad further.” With a market value of 150 million euros, Union is the tenth most valuable squad in the German upper house. In the summer, Union strengthened itself with record purchases Robin Gosens, Benedict Hollerbach and Alex Kral, but experienced a disappointing start to the season under successful coach Urs Fischer, who has since been released. The signing of Italian defender icon Leonardo Bonucci also turned out to be a misunderstanding – the 36-year-old was already handed over to Fenerbahce.

Union Berlin: Ruhnert talks about the impact of coach Bjelica

Ruhnert (quoted via “Berliner Zeitung”) gave Bjelica, who came under criticism, a decent certificate. “He brought back faith. He managed to bring life back and success. “That’s perhaps the biggest impact he’s made,” said Ruhnert about the “committed, emotional” coach, who made a mistake against Leroy Sané in the away game at FC Bayern and was subsequently suspended. Bjelica’s record at Union after eleven games: 1.36 points per game.

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