Union Berlin is trembling to stay in the Bundesliga despite two missed penalties. While the Köpenickers start a wild night, Freiburg’s coach Streich looks for the mistakes in himself.
Savior Janik Haberer led 1. FC Union Berlin on the lap of honour through the Alte Försterei. When Robin Gosens and Co. got their children from the stands to celebrate their last-minute stay in the Bundesliga together, they had to fight their way through many crying fans.
The wild 99 minutes with two missed penalties and a red card for Union goalkeeping coach Michael Gspurning had affected club officials, players and fans alike.
“Tonight we will let out all the frustration we had over the season and celebrate the whole thing in total freedom,” announced Benedict Hollerbach. The 23-year-old shot the Köpenickers into the lead with his long-range hammer (68th) before Haberer (90th + 2) sent the Alte Försterei into ecstasy and made up for the interim equalizer by Ritsu Doan (85th).
The fact that Josip Juranovic (38th) and Kevin Volland (90th + 2) had missed two penalties was in the end only a marginal aspect. “With the penalty shootout, we have to take another look,” said interim coach Marco Grote with a wink.
Green tea and some refreshments
At the same time, loud music was booming from the Union cabin. The starting signal for a wild party night. “With green tea and a few other refreshments,” answered Hollerbach when asked about the upcoming celebration program.
One year after the historic qualification for the premier class, the Eisernen took advantage of VfL Bochum’s mistake in the season finale and prevented them from falling into the second division. After zero wins in the premier class, a total of two coaching releases and often lifeless appearances in the final stretch of the Bundesliga, the Berliners had almost reached rock bottom five years after promotion. “All’s well that ends well? Well, it was still a bad season,” said captain Christopher Trimmel on Saturday and thanked the coaching team: “They instilled self-confidence in us. Our virtues were once again in the foreground.”
Streich is “extremely disappointed” in himself
Freiburg, however, had to bury their dreams of the European Cup after the defeat and ended the season in tenth place. While the Union players celebrated in front of their corner and beer mugs flew wildly through the air, the SC players stood petrified in front of the visitors’ block. For minutes, Maximilian Eggestein and Co. looked at the faces of their fans with a lifeless expression. “It’s sad, of course we would have liked to play in Europe,” said a dejected captain Christian Günter later.
After five games without a win, Christian Streich blamed himself. “The fact that we haven’t won a game in the last few weeks is unbelievable. I have to blame myself for that,” said the 58-year-old after his last game as SC coach. “We had good games, but we didn’t win a single one. I’m now extremely disappointed in myself that I didn’t manage to give the team the final impetus. I’m sorry for the fans and the team,” said prank and disappeared into the cabin.
Source: Stern
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