Berlin – On Sunday, the players of 1. FC Union Berlin were able to catch their breath. There was no training on the day between the 2-1 defeat in a friendly against second division team Holstein Kiel on Saturday and the departure for the training camp on Monday.
The second training camp of the summer preparations in Bramberg am Wildkogel (Austria) is going full steam ahead. “We want to work again in the physical area, but also be a bit livelier,” said Union coach Urs Fischer. “It’s slowly becoming about sprints and rehearsing tactical things and promoting team spirit.”
The Champions League participant will be in Austria until August 2nd and will play two friendlies during this time. On Friday (4:00 p.m.), coach Urs Fischer’s team will play against the Cypriot first division side Paphos FC in Saalfelden am Steinernen Meer. On Saturday (3.30 p.m.) there will be a reunion with Udinese Calcio in Lienz. In the previous year, Union separated 3: 3 from the Italian first division team in the same place in July.
A total of 23 players played against Kiel in front of 13,014 spectators in the Stadion An der Alten Försterei, the majority of the squad over 60 minutes. This was possible because the game was played over four times 30 minutes (0:1, 0:0, 0:0, 1:1) instead of the usual two times of 45 minutes.
Union were 2-0 down thanks to an own goal by defender Josip Juranovic (8′), in which goalkeeper Frederik Rönnow struck an air hole, and a goal by Fiete Arp (95′). In the 111th minute, Sheraldo Becker was able to reduce the deficit to 1:2 with a penalty kick. Tim Skarke (117th) and Janik Haberer (120th) each hit the crossbar shortly before the end.
After the 3-2 defeat at Hungarian first division club Zalaegerszegi TE FC, the second defeat in this preparatory period was perfect for Union. Nevertheless, Fischer was not completely dissatisfied. “We had a lot of possession in the first 30 minutes, but no depth and few opportunities. There was an increase in the second 30 minutes. There was a lack of efficiency in the third quarter, when you have so many chances you have to score goals,” said the 57-year-old Swiss. “In the fourth quarter, the goal line got in the way. One has seen approaches. We scored the 0:1 ourselves. And then Kiel had another chance. Otherwise we didn’t allow anything and still got two goals.”
Four of the five new signings from outside the Irons included midfielders Alex Kral, Brenden Aaronson and Lucas Tousart, as well as forward David Datro Fofana. Striker Mikkel Kaufmann was rested due to stress management.
Ex-Herthan Tousart made his debut in the Union jersey. “He struggled a bit in the first 10, 15 minutes. Then he was in the game and came up with good moves and won the ball,” said Fischer about the Frenchman, who was warmly welcomed in the stadium.
The first quarter break lasted over 20 minutes instead of 5 minutes because referee Max Burda was injured. Finding a replacement proved difficult. Stadium announcer Christian Arbeit asked for an assistant in the audience with regional league experience. Finally, Union fan Gunnar Mielenz, who whistles in the Berlin league, agreed. The 40-year-old was celebrated by the spectators and did a very good job, as Fischer also thought.
2023-07-23 22:40:12
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