Struggling, uncertain, lacking direction - The likelihood of a union being demoted is approaching.
Köpenick's football team let a 2:0 lead slip away in Cologne, conceding a 2:3 defeat in extra time - and now find themselves perilously close to relegation. Relegation is no longer an abstract concept for these players.
As the final whistle blew, the despondent players collapsed to the ground, their empty faces telling the same story. Defender Diogo Leite (25) lashed out at a water bottle in frustration. Following a conversation with the club's fans, the team trudged into the dressing room. Club president Dirk Zingler (59) also walked silently through the locker room.
On their way to the airport, the players were hit with another blow: Mainz's 3:0 victory over Dortmund pushed Union to the relegation zone. Direct relegation is a real possibility after their defeat in Cologne. Union have been performing poorly of late, making them underdogs even against second-division teams.
The game with Köln was the ultimate low point in a series of sporting struggles. The club's management tried to turn things around with a new coach, promoting U19 coach Marco Grote (51) to replace Nenad Bjelica (52). However, it didn't work.
Union clueless! Köln's second-half performance showed that Union are in a worse state than ever this season. Captain Christopher Trimmel (37) was candid on "Sportschau": "This season has been an unmitigated disaster from start to finish. We never found our footing as a team, there have always been issues."
Union Berlin's limp performance against 1. FC Köln
Union bewildered! There is no straightforward explanation for the shocking defeat against FC Köln. The only clear takeaway is that the team couldn't maintain the positive energy Grote brought in when he first took over.
After scoring early through Knoche (14th minute) and Volland (19th), Union became more and more passive - and offered little resistance even against a harmless Köln team.
Union was lacking in the most basic virtues in the battle for survival. Grote: "We couldn't impose any pressure on the ball." Trimmel: "Our attacks were too haphazard, our defense was weak."
Union clueless! Union aimed to keep their lead instead of securing a third goal. Grote: "We saw some promising attacks in the half but didn't bring our depth and physicality into play." The team couldn't execute the coach's strategy in the second half.
The first step for Grote now is to revamp the team. The impact of the coaching change has petered out. He must now rally his troops with slogans of resilience: "I still have faith and trust in the team."
But there's no escaping the truth: Union no longer have direct Bundesliga survival in their own hands. They're more vulnerable than ever before!
Read also:
- Columbia University Faces Possible Expulsion Following Demonstrations
- Football turmoil in Munich: Last-minute penalty stuns Bayern
- Steinmeier Faces Backlash Over "Expert Caliber" Remark
- US State Department Lacks Own Standards in Regard to Israel
Source: symclub.org
