Added value of a point: Union hopes for a turning point
With the great relief of Naples, the professionals of 1. FC Union boarded the plane home. It will soon become clear how lasting the result frustration is for the Berliners. Just four days after the end of the stressful series of defeats with Wednesday evening's 1:1 draw at the Italian soccer champions, coach Urs Fischer's team must face unbeaten Bundesliga leaders Bayer 04 Leverkusen.
Series of defeats snapped
"At least one streak has been snapped," said Fischer in the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona. Now they would have to see how long they would have to work to end the next one. Since the victories on the first two matchdays, the Irons have not even picked up a point in the Bundesliga and have slipped to 16th place in the table. "I know soccer well enough. We have to work really hard now," emphasized Christopher Trimmel with a view to the possible turning point in the season with the draw against Società Sportiva Calcio Napoli.
Despite all the solidarity and assurances, a dozen consecutive defeats have left their mark on Union, who have continued to climb the table since promotion in 2019. "Yes, what can I say: Finally!" commented Fischer on the draw. "If you lose twelve times in a row, you simply don't have the ease, the necessary self-confidence," said the 57-year-old Swiss: Mentally, the result in Naples could have a big impact.
How much will soon become clear. "We must not be satisfied now," emphasized Union's Italian defensive star Leonardo Bonucci. The game at Bayer was an important building block, said the 36-year-old European champion. It is clear that a point or even a win would be an accelerator back to the old iron strength that has led the Berliners first to the Conference, then to the Europa and finally even to the Champions League.
Morale after the restart
Even in Naples, the internal impact of David Fofana's equalizer after the break was clear to see, after the visitors from the capital had fallen behind before the break. "We suffered, but it was a good start and an important point for morale," said Robin Gosens, who, like Bonucci and Kevin Volland, moved to Köpenick before this season.
Participating in the Champions League for the first time in the club's history had also raised the demands on the team, and the club, which was keen to preserve its image as a "Malocher", also became more attractive to internationally renowned players. With the two league victories at the start of the season, everything went as hoped, but then the slump came quickly and violently and somehow also a little inexplicably.
Preliminary round exit
The fact that Union no longer have a chance of reaching the knockout round of the top flight ahead of their final two Group C games away against SC Braga and at home against Real Madrid did not play a significant role in the evening of relief, as third place and thus the Europa League is still in the bag. "Maybe this point can still be very important in the final reckoning," said Fischer.
Union's draw against SSC Napoles in the Champions League marked a precious point for their morale, as they had been enduring a dozen consecutive defeats. Despite this relief, the 1st FC Union Berlin now face a challenging match against unbeaten Bundesliga leaders Bayer 04 Leverkusen, who are also vying for a spot in the Champions League, with SSC Napoles having previously qualified.
Source: www.dpa.com
