Party with the fans: Union players celebrate entering the Champions League Photo: Tobias SCHWARZ / AFP
By Sebastian Karkos
The coronation took place on the 34th day of the game. 1. FC Union Berlin will play in the Champions League next season.
In the 1-0 win against Bremen, Rani Khedira redeemed the team and the fans in the Alte Försterei shortly before the end (81st). The voices of the Irons after their 18th win of the season.
► Victory goalscorer Rani Khedira: “It was the most important goal of my career so far. If we’d lost or even gotten a point, we’d still be in the Champions League. It was an emotional explosion at the moment that I can’t really put into words. A beautiful goal. And an important one – incredible. I wanted to do the same. I heard what felt like 400 million times from the coaching staff: ‘Take the inside’. And at the crucial moment I took the inside.”
Union players celebrate Rani Khedira’s winner (centre) Photo: City Press
The midfielder continued about the season: “We’ve deservedly been in the Champions League for more than 34 matchdays. We were first for seven games in the first half of the season, that was extraordinary. We played the Champions League anthem for fun, not necessarily with the thought that we have to reach the Champions League, it was a long-term goal somewhere, an ulterior motive. At some point, fun became serious, now we have reached for the stars.”
► Defense chief Robin Knoche: “I haven’t quite realized that we’re represented in this competition, but we deserve it. We can enjoy that now.”
► Coach Urs Fischer: “I have to let that sink in a bit. What I’m really proud of: The team stayed calm. During the break we didn’t mention or discuss the result in Frankfurt (Freiburg led 1-0 – ed.). We deservedly won the game. Now we are there and have qualified for the premier class. It will be important that we stay true to ourselves, show humility and modesty and don’t change too much.”