A team like Urs Fischer's image

Urs Fischer , the coach of the 1. FC Union Berlin, in the press room at the stadium an der Alten forsterei, and he looked as if he did not fully comprehend what question you asked him. What it means for him personally, in his first year at Union for the biggest success in club history to worry, was the question – after all, a League-rise would exceed even Union's victory in the FDGB Cup in 1968 and the participation in the DFB-Cup final in 2001.

"I don't see this as a success," said Fischer. Balance he wanted to move only after the last round on Sunday. So, if to the Union game in Bochum and the remote duel with second-placed Paderborn, Germany (in Dresden) is whether the Union ascends directly or in the Barrage against Stuttgart has to compete, the 16. the Bundesliga .

Enigmatic mood

Urs Fischer's quiet, it fits well to the Union and to the currently enigmatic mood. Before the home game against Magdeburg last Sunday (3:0) hung Fans, a Transparent on, the put the left basic setting of the Association on the topic of ascension: "Everything can, nothing must." In the Berlin media, but also reports that there is a "AJ"movement, a Fansektor who have dedicated themselves to the Motto "climb now!". However, there is also a group of supporters that don't want at any price to the top, because you a line from the club anthem in the soul has burned: "Who can not be from the West to buy? Eisern Union! Eisern Union ...!"

That it gives Fans Union, which would in the case of the rise of fear, "that you alienate yourself completely", the Ruhnert know Oliver, the Manager. He is aware that the Union is a Club in whose stadium the speaker sometimes in tears, in the mid-term messages to grief cases, from the Union of family in the stands reads; a Club whose stadium is still two thirds of the places where there is a stone kiosk with a hand-operated scoreboard, as probably nowhere else in the styled professional football.

But the success also has its side effects. In the past few years, many Fans from far off countries traveled to Köpenick, because they are in Union and an authenticity that will no longer exist in the football of their countries, or because they can't afford the home, the visit to the stadium.

Should ascend Union, however, would have to according to League rules, the seat quota to be increased, with effect on the price level and on the character of the Association. This is exactly the fear that hangs in the tree tops around the Old Forester's house: and the Club of a gentrification falls prey to the Rest of the capital in your Mouth. But perhaps must Ruhnert as a stroke of luck for the Union to be referred to, because of social sensibilities, he has an antenna. He is parliamentary leader of the Left in the city Council of his hometown of Iserlohn.

In the summer of 2018 committed to Ruhnert coach Fischer. "I wanted a German coach," he says, "and I wanted to prevent the boys categorize him directly. That you call as soon as he is named, with friends and colleagues and say: "This is the and the – and the is so-and-so."" The Coup with the unknown Coach was able. As the post was known to the Team "with Who, and with a question mark".

fisherman needs no Show

Meanwhile, the player fisherman know as a coach who "doesn't need to Show a clear approach and a clear Plan in the game," says Ruhnert. The result: Union is now a team like a spitting image of the former professionals Urs Fischer: it's not always shiny, but hard-working and stable. The Team can never and nowhere out of the rest – such as fishermen.

"He knows the Stress, he knows big stages, he knows pressure. The fits to a peaceful city like Berlin," says Ruhnert. Urs Fischer led Thun and FC Zürich once in the Europa League, he was as a coach with Basel Double-winner, another champion, he played with the FCB in the Champions League. Now he might be Union in the Bundesliga. A climb he has already completed: as a player with FC St. Gallen. "More joy for you," said the fisherman of those days, and afterwards pushed: Please do not wrong understand, the more joy hot: "On the football-related!"

(Süddeutsche Zeitung)

Created: 18.05.2019, 08:47 PM