Union’s Rani Khedira (28) in contract poker

By Matthew Koch

Rani Khedira (28), with Union since 2021 (55 competitive games, 1 goal), is a defensive midfielder. In the BZ, the vice-captain talks about the league lead, Union’s disgusting football and his future.

BZ: Bundesliga leaders! How does that feel?

Rani Khedira: It’s a nice feeling and kind of a confirmation for the whole weeks we’ve busted our butts. It makes you proud because we kept up very well against top teams with fewer economic opportunities. But we never tire of using the word humility. We don’t go crazy, we know that we can only win or score if we show our maximum willingness to perform.

Union asks itself to play disgusting football. What does that mean?

Standing on the opponent’s feet again and again and always being close to the man. We play physical, we annoy the opponents because we are so close together and we want to keep them in duels. So that they simply lose the fun of 1:1 situations.

How does coach Urs Fischer prepare you for this?

Day after day. He never gives away an action in training and lets it continue. He shows it to us again and again, he also prepares video scenes that show how difficult it is to score goals against us. I think that’s just one of our damn great strengths.

Which actually every other club knows…

In every game we aim to really go to our limit. And with this power many do not get along. We actually live this intensity, this tireless and solidary action, which the trainer keeps talking about.

Her older brother Sami became world champion and champions league winner. Did you find it difficult to step out of his shadow?

At first the expectations were very high because people around me said I was the better one. But Sami had headed Stuttgart to the championship in 2007 and later went to Real Madrid. Some people expected me to lead VfB to the Champions League title. But I was able to free myself from this pressure quickly. The range was pretty big in 2014 anyway. My brother was part of the world champion team and I was playing for Leipzig in the 2nd Bundesliga at the time. But we managed well not to make comparisons all the time. Everyone was and is their own personality.

Her contract expires in the summer.

I can definitely see myself staying. I feel very comfortable here and quickly found my place at Union. It’s a fitting thing. In 15 months I was able to play 55 competitive games. There have not yet been any talks about a contract extension. Oliver Ruhnert (professional football managing director, ed.) has announced that talks should also take place in the near future.

Former Union top performers have always wanted to take the next step elsewhere.

You can also take the next step with Union.

Even when scoring goals? There is only one goal for you in Berlin…

It’s about time, even if it’s not my main task. The fact that we only conceded four goals this Bundesliga season is more my responsibility. But of course I wish I could be more dangerous. I have to force it more consistently.

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