Berlin (AP) – minutes after the final whistle, the grandstands in the old forester were still shaking. The fans of 1. FC Union Berlin unpacked their singing repertoire, the players danced exuberantly on the lawn. First goal of the season achieved with 41 points and ticked off.
“A happy evening,” said coach Urs Fischer and announced: “We will sit down together and define a realistic goal accordingly.”
Of course, that is the next goal. The capital derby is coming up in a week. The third duel with Hertha BSC this season. “We showed this year who is number one in Berlin. We want to keep it that way,” emphasized defender Robin Knoche. Union had won duel number one in November last year in the championship 2-0 in the An der Alten Försterei stadium, duel number two in the round of 16 of the DFB Cup in January 3-2 in the Olympic Stadium.
Concentrated preparation for Hertha
Duel number three follows on Saturday next week. “I hope that we’ll take a bit of wind with us,” said Fischer after the 1-0 win over 1. FC Köln: “We’ll then start preparing for the Hertha task on Monday.” Until then, the motto in Berlin-Köpenick is: Enjoy. 40 points plus was the declared first goal of the season that the Unioner had set for their third season in the Bundesliga.
What’s up now? “I do believe that we can still achieve a lot this season,” said Knoche. Coach Fischer, one who classifies the goals with restrained realism, even let himself be carried away to a small calculation. “There are six games left, three of them at home. That would be nine points,” he said.
This would give the Unioners 50 points. “I can well imagine that,” said the 56-year-old Swiss. They scored that many points in the past season and ultimately even made it into the newly created Conference League.
Nine points at home, plus possible away counters like against Hertha, who drew new hope with the victory on Felix Magath’s debut before the international break, before the game this Saturday (3:30 p.m. / Sky) at Champions League aspirant Bayer 04 Leverkusen but is still on the relegation rank.
Cologne hurts the defeat
The Unioners definitely overtook the Cologne team (40). “Everyone can imagine that I’m disappointed,” said visiting coach Steffen Baumgart. He had suffered along on the edge, in t shirt with a vest over it when it feels like it’s below zero. “The defeat hurts us. We have to deal with that,” said the 50-year-old, who was also celebrated by the Union fans at the presentation.
What Baumgart once showed as a professional with the Irons between 2002 and 2004 in commitment and passion remains unforgotten with the Unionern. Just like what Fischer has already done at the cult club from Köpenick – just the two derby victories this season, which will soon be followed by the third.