Captain Christopher Trimmel is assuming that the Bundesliga club 1. FC Union Berlin will be able to make another attempt at international business after the formally secured relegation.
“Nobody is looking at us where they’re going on vacation. We’ll define and announce a new goal in the next few days,” said the Austrian on Monday in a press round before the capital derby on Saturday against relegation candidate Hertha BSC.
After last Friday’s 1-0 win over table neighbors 1. FC Köln and before the last six games of the season, Union is in seventh place, just waiting for the European Cup ranks. Before the duel with Hertha, coach Urs Fischer’s team is only three points behind sixth-placed TSG Hoffenheim on the Conference League playoff spot. SC Freiburg is only four points ahead of “Eisern Union” in the Europa League.
According to Trimmel, the derby will take place under different circumstances than the two comparisons between the capital clubs in the course of the season so far. “The mentality at Hertha will be completely different,” the defensive veteran alluded to changes at Hertha under new coach Felix Magath: “It will definitely be a tough game.”
Due to the “Magath effect”, Trimmel no longer sees any parallels to his team’s cup success last January in the round of 16 against the “old lady”. In the winter, said Trimmel. “Hertha was very insecure. A completely different team will be on the pitch on Saturday.”
But that’s not the only reason why the Union Cup semifinals on April 20 (Wednesday) at runner-up RB Leipzig will not play a role in Trimmel’s team. “We would be stupid if we were to shift down a gear because of the cup and maybe block a big goal for each of us in the league,” said the 35-year-old: “We all know that there is still a lot for us is possible.”