Fofana handshake and Bonucci
“Brutal” CL evening causes Union new worries
By Sebastian Schneider, Berlin
October 25, 2023, 7:30 a.m
Union Berlin lost its Champions League home game against SSC Napoli 0-1. It is the ninth competitive defeat in a row. It also provides the Köpenickers with issues off the pitch.
Actually, it could have been prevented: Union coach Urs Fischer also noticed that the Iron Naples could have stopped Chwitscha Kwarazchelia in the 65th minute three times. It began with Diogo Leite’s completely failed liberation move, which returned to the Georgian. Then captain Christopher Trimmel couldn’t go into the duel in his own penalty area against Kwarazchelia as he actually wanted. After all, he had been warned for a long time. Trimmel, he said after the game, relied on the rest of the defense, but they came too late in the form of Danilho Doekhi.
And so Naples’ miracle dribbler “Kvaradona” took advantage of the Iron team’s long chain of errors. He passed the ball across to Giacomo Raspadori in the Union penalty area, who converted the Neapolitans’ only chance to score from close range. It was the only goal of the evening. Again it was a defeat for Union Berlin. It is now the ninth in a row. “It feels brutal,” Fischer said after the game, while still praising his team for their performance.
But in the end it doesn’t matter how good the game was: the 0-1 defeat against Naples is the chapter in the incredible series of bankruptcies. Union has wasted every game since the end of August. The team, it seems, has lost its superpowers of the past few years, as the “Süddeutsche Zeitung” described it after last weekend’s 0-3 performance, which was not very suitable for the Bundesliga, against the surprise team VfB Stuttgart. Union was able to defend stably like no other team and score many goals from a few chances. But the team has lost these skills somewhere, or so it seemed recently.
Union became Union again
The special Champions League evening against the Italian champions took place in the middle of what was probably the biggest sporting crisis since promotion to the Bundesliga. On Tuesday afternoon, the fans set off on the long journey again: from the southeastern corner of Berlin to the Westend. It’s a journey that usually takes much longer than actually planned. The Iron Team survived the pouring rain and the overcrowded lanes to end up in a place they didn’t want to be: the Berlin Olympic Stadium. As is well known, this is the home ground of local rivals Hertha BSC.
The Olympic Stadium is rarely this red.
(Photo: picture alliance/dpa)
There had been a lot of discussion in advance about the stadium change. At the first CL home game against Braga, flyers were handed out that were intended to provide information. Now the fans’ big banner was hanging there again, which was supposed to make it clear that they actually wanted to experience these special Champions League games somewhere else: “We need the Alte Försterei like the air we breathe.” And yet a certain routine has now set in for the second game there this season: the blue and white tartan track is covered, the stadium is bathed in deep red during the club anthem and the alternating song between the halves of the stadium during the game is now practiced.
Just over 72,000 people saw how Union became Union again. The Berliners left virtually no chances against Naples – and if they did, the leg or the thigh of a red-and-white player was between them if necessary. Apart from the goal, Naples didn’t have a single shot on goal. The Unioners destroyed the game, just like they always did in their heyday. And even relied on counterattacks through the quick Sheraldo Becker and David Fonfana. Champions League debutant Rani Khedira said afterwards that he had seen a lot of things that used to make Berlin strong.
Unrest twice
The statistical values at halftime made this clear: 38 percent ball possession, only one direct shot on goal from both sides. These are classic Union numbers. The Iron Men were helped by the final return of Khedira and Robin Knoche. The duo came back against Stuttgart at the weekend, but now also brought the security they thought had been lost. “These are two players who are extremely important for our processes and our automatisms,” said Fischer. It was precisely those automatisms that had recently been lost. The only problem was efficiency, and Union again failed to score.
And even though Fischer praised his team after the game, there were two new worries for him after the game. One is Chelsea loanee Fofana. The 20-year-old refused to shake hands after being substituted. Afterwards, the TV images repeatedly showed him with his face buried in his jersey on the bench. The coach announced a conversation with Fofana. Captain Trimmel explained that such things are part of football and should not be overrated.
The second concern was caused by central defender Leonardo Bonucci. It symbolizes the summer transfers of Robin Gosens and Kevin Volland, who all came very late and are still not working out as hoped. After his surprising move to Köpenick, Bonucci has only played rarely. The Unioners have recently repeatedly pointed out that the 36-year-old was missing summer preparation. Already during the game, reports were circulating that the ex-Juventus star was unhappy about not being in the starting line-up against Naples. Fischer said he was surprised, but said he had only spoken to him this week. “Of course he is dissatisfied,” said the coach. He hopes that all of his players want to play too. But in the end he has to choose eleven of them – Bonucci wasn’t there again.
Naples’ crooked mathematics
These are problems that the Union team hasn’t experienced for a long time: the many defeats, players who publicly express their displeasure. These are uncomfortable times in Köpenick. Before the Naples game, Fischer had warned of stormy times. The storm hasn’t subsided even after the 0-1 score. “It’s difficult to keep calm after nine defeats in a row,” said Fischer. It’s logical “that a lot of questions come from outside, that it takes on a certain dynamic,” but he can deal with that well. Inside they tried to keep calm. Now, however, they would have to deal with the next blow to the neck. “Even though you’ve done a lot of things right, you’re left empty-handed,” he said.
Trimmel also reassured. The captain explained that there were no problems within the team. “If we had a bad mood internally, we wouldn’t put on a performance like this,” he said. But results should slowly come. They’re hoping for that on Saturday too, because then the core business calls again: the Bundesliga. Fischer was ridiculed for a long time for making relegation his goal for the season, even at his highest altitude. The season is still long, but this time things could get really serious. The Unioners are up against their neighbors Werder Bremen, who have the same points in the table. Another defeat could turn the storm into a hurricane.
Nevertheless, in addition to the appearance in the premier class, there is a rather unusual glimmer of hope: the questionable mathematics of Naples coach Rudi Garcia. He said after the game that he had warned against Union because Berlin was more likely to get a good result after eight defeats. According to logic, it is only a matter of time that the horror series will soon be history.