No quick shots
©IMAGO
1. FC Union Berlin has been waiting for a win for nine Bundesliga games; with 13 goals, the Iron Men have the second-worst offense. In new coach Steffen Baumgart’s debut on Saturday against the struggling Heidenheim (0:2), the Köpenick team disappointed once again. While the 53-year-old is taking a closer look at his new players, Union is also keeping a close eye on the transfer market.
“I don’t think that came across very clearly. When I said that I look at the squad and am happy with how the boys are working, that doesn’t mean that we aren’t doing our job,” Baumgart told the “Kicker“according to the press conference before the home game on Wednesday (8:30 p.m.) against FC Augsburg. Sports director Horst Heldt is “very intensively thinking about how we do it. We don’t just keep an eye on the so-called striker position. We should have everything in sight by the end of January.”
One or two players could perhaps join the team, said Baumgart. The transfer window this winter doesn’t close until February 3rd. Something could also happen in terms of departures. In any case, Union is not just a passive spectator on the transfer market. “If the impression arose that we would just let it go like that, I can say 100 percent: No. I just find it difficult to make any quick decisions,” said Baumgart.
Things are still relatively quiet about the Iron Men in the rumor mill; so far only a few names from abroad have popped up. Union is said to be interested in offensive player Nuno Santos (25) from Vitória Guimarães, midfielder Jakub Moder (25) from Brighton is said to have even made a specific request. Youssoufa Moukoko (20), who was loaned out to Nice by BVB with little success, was also loosely associated with the Köpenick team, as he was already an issue at Baumgart during his HSV and Cologne days.
Union has so far been lacking a real snapper, especially in the storm. The best goalscorer is Benedict Hollerbach (23) with three goals, Yorbe Vertessen (24) was the only other attacker to score once. Despite many chances to play, Jordan (28) and Tim Skarke (28) have zero, while Kevin Volland (32), Ivan Prtajin (28) and Andrej Ilic (24) hardly got a chance due to injuries or their standing under predecessor Bo Svensson .
Baumgart wants to let Volland & Co. ignite at Union Berlin
“I spoke clearly with Kevin about what I wanted from him and what I expected. I assume that he will be there in the future,” said Baumgart. “At the moment it’s not enough. But I’m relatively sure that this will only be for a short period of time.” The Union coach, who was previously active as a striker, hopes to be able to get one or two of his new protégés back in the scoring mood, as he has already done with others Anthony Modeste (36) in Cologne, with Davie Selke (29) at Effzeh and HSV or Sven Michel (34) in Paderborn.
“In my past I have managed to get one or two late bloomers to score goals again. I won’t name any names now: But many a striker hasn’t scored before and he scored for me,” Baumgart said according to “Berlin newspaper“. “When I see Jordan, he brings everything to score goals. When I see Ilic in the 20 minutes that he played against Heidenheim, I am relatively sure that we are on the right track.” And this is? “All I can always say is what helped me as a striker: getting the boys in the right position.”