From BZ/dpa
Union and Champions League are still unusual parameters for manager Ruhnert. For the manager, participation would open up new opportunities.
A move into the Champions League would open up completely new opportunities for Union Berlin four years after promotion to the Bundesliga. There are “many more players that you would have to talk about and would be included in the portfolio that are not on the agenda at the moment,” said Oliver Ruhnert, Managing Director of professional football, of the “Berliner Morgenpost” (Saturday).
Unions Ruhnert: writing a modern football fairy tale
In view of the success story after the last two international participations, qualifying for the European premier class would be “the next surreal step after what has been described as surreal in previous years”.
Six games before the end of the season, Union is fighting for a place in the premier class with 52 points in third place in the table, especially with the table neighbors RB Leipzig (51 points) and SC Freiburg (50).
“It would show that you can still write a bit of modern football fairy tales,” said Ruhnert.
Ruhnert: Whether it’s possible is primarily up to us
Despite the good starting position, the 51-year-old would not be upset if he missed out on the financially lucrative participation: “I don’t know if it would be that annoying. Last season we were a point short of the Champions League. Whether it’s possible this season up to the last matchday is primarily up to us. As in the past two years, it would be ideal to have a final in the Alte Försterei.” On the last matchday, Werder Bremen visit Köpenick .
With a ten-point lead over seventh place, the goal for the Berliners before the guest appearance at Borussia Mönchengladbach on Sunday (7.30 p.m. / DAZN) is to qualify for a third international participation in a row, whether it’s the Champions League, Europa League or Conference League. Of course, participation in the Champions League would be the absolute highlight for Ruhnert and the team.
“But why should you commit to something only to not achieve something in the end and possibly be disappointed as a team about something that would still be great?” Ruhnert realistically classifies the sporting performance, “we’re not here at Borussia Dortmund or RB Leipzig”.