1. FC Union Berlin – Christmas singing: time to reflect in Köpenick

Benedict Hollerbach formulated the mission for himself and all his teammates at 1. FC Union: “We want to start the new year with a fresh head.” The 23-year-old is also making progress on the pitch – as Berlin’s top goalscorer in the Bundesliga . However, at the same time he represents the crisis in Köpenick. With his three goals this season so far, Hollerbach is only ranked 38th in the league statistics. In the 15 games so far, Union’s footballers have only hit the opposing goal 14 times, making them the third-worst offense in the Bundesliga.

Hollerbach himself proved what role the head plays when he spoke of a “series of defeats” after the 4-1 defeat in Bremen last Saturday. He certainly hadn’t forgotten the previous game against VfL Bochum – but the draw in the home game against the bottom team in the table didn’t stick in his mind as a point win. Negative associations are understandable after eight games without a win, including five defeats.

Tendency and mechanisms

Horst Heldt naturally finds this “tendency” “unsatisfactory”. Union’s sports director now wants to reflect and “let the impressions sink in.” In doing so, he uses the usual official language, which doesn’t bode well. This is not surprising, as 1. FC Union simply jumped onto the managerial carousel of German football by signing the 55-year-old in the summer. If the mechanisms of business take effect so quickly in Köpenick, a lack of commitment to the coach is usually followed by his dismissal. This process has long been driven by the fight for attention in the media, which is waged with every headline.

Heldt certainly did not formulate his words carelessly. More from the routine of his official work in Stuttgart, Gelsenkirchen, Hanover and Cologne, but that doesn’t make it any better. The truth is that coach Bo Svensson can only work with what is available to him. What he is missing is a center forward suitable for the Bundesliga. And Heldt, for whatever reason, was unable to solve this problem in the Berlin squad, which was already known before the summer.

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Heldt’s failure is made clear by the numbers: with 185 shots on goal, Union is in the solid midfield of the league. The team certainly develops a goal threat with the coach’s offensive plan. But because there is a lack of a reliable enforcer at the front, the Berliners find themselves in second-to-last place in the efficiency table. Another argument for Svensson is the defensive work: Even after the 1:4 in Bremen, Union still has the second best defense with 19 goals conceded. And the team also seems to be in tact. The second-best mileage in the Bundesliga shows that the attitude and passion are right.

Shadows over self-presentation

The time of reflection began on Monday with the traditional Christmas singing. Because the entire Union family needs to rally – including fans and club management. The dark shadow of the last home game against Bochum continued to hover over the red and white self-presentation. The lighter thrower was identified and given a three-year stadium ban by 1. FC Union itself. Goalkeeper Patrick Drewes, who was hit in the head, and the club are still waiting in vain for an apology.

“We cannot apologize for another person.” Union justified his stance with this absurd logic. Not even a regret? That’s weak. Especially since the subsequent whistles in the stadium and insults on social media represent much more than just an individual opinion. Did Drewes exaggerate? Was he unable or unwilling to continue playing afterwards? Even if so, it is not the issue that should concern 1. FC Union Berlin. Rather this: The taboo in the Alte Försterei not to throw objects onto the pitch was broken by their own fans.

The DFB will decide on January 9th whether Union’s sporting situation will become even more threatening. If VfL Bochum’s appeal is successful, the Berliners will lose a perhaps important point in the relegation battle. A week before that, Union footballers start training again. Horst Heldt will definitely not be the only one to decide whether Bo Svensson will still be in charge on the pitch. However, he quite carelessly destroyed the once so profitable relationship of trust in the club.