The opportunity was there for manager Oliver Ruhnert. He could have expressed his unreserved support for Urs Fischer and named the successful coach of recent years as the best choice for this, now certainly somewhat more difficult phase.
But after the 2-0 loss in Bremen, Ruhnert publicly moved away from Fischer. Anyone who listened closely when the manager spoke to the cameras after the final whistle heard that his coach was now on probation. If things go wrong in the cup in Stuttgart (Tuesday, 6 p.m.), and that can certainly be expected due to the great uncertainty in the Berlin team after ten defeats in a row, depending on the result, this away trip could be Fischer’s last for Union have been.
Perhaps, and most people around the team currently believe this, Fischer will also get the home game against Eintracht Frankfurt (Saturday, 3:30 p.m.). But knocking the buck down again is getting harder every day.
The problem, which they are also talking about these days at the office in Berlin-Köpenick, is very clear: Urs Fischer has now been shot, of course only proverbially. So significantly weakened. The fact that his achievements over the past few years are publicly acknowledged, but no one in the management gives him a guarantee for this season, is a clear signal. The alternative would be to make Fischer a strong man who is very familiar with his experience around the squad and the special circumstances at Union.
Union decided differently and heralded the end of Fischer. The history of the Bundesliga knows countless similar situations and cases that led to the coach’s departure shortly afterwards. It usually only lasted a few weeks at most.
Players in particular feel very clearly how strong the man in the club who gives them the daily guidelines still is. The consulting agencies behind the professionals, whose careers are ultimately at stake, have just as fine antennae. And they work together, in their favor, as soon as spaces are created.
Of course, Oliver Ruhnert doesn’t ultimately decide whether Fischer stays as coach. The strong man at Union Berlin is President Dirk Zingler. He has huge plans and, as many at Union see it, has been keeping quiet for a relatively long time because there has been so little progress since August. The first Champions League season, in which the club has invested so much, is currently blowing up in their faces.
A new impulse in the coaching bench can make a difference, usually especially in the short term. Union Berlin would act like most other competitors if plans don’t work out. Then the coach is the weakest link.
You want to wish things would be different. Because the fundamental misjudgments that first lead to chaos and then to crisis essentially lie in other areas.
2023-10-30 21:00:27
#Bundesliga #Union #heralded #Fischer #SPORT1 #column #Tobias #Holtkamp
