Union's defense is in transition: too many goals conceded and worry lines

Football was often nothing to look at. But he was effective - and that was what ultimately counted. For years, the defense was the showpiece of 1. FC Union Berlin, which developed into a defensive model boy in the upper echelon of German football in the first few years after promotion in 2019.

In the 2022/23 season, for example, the Berliners had the best defense in the Bundesliga together with FC Bayern Munich under coach Urs Fischer, who is now in charge at 1. FSV Mainz 05. In 34 games, the team only conceded 38 goals - an average of just 1.1 goals per game. The good stability was a guarantee for entry into the Champions League. Union largely left the ball to their opponents in midfield, only to consistently set them up in the final third. The rooms were narrow and there was hardly any way through. Long balls provided relief for Union - perfectly rehearsed standards were also a basis for success.

The fact that the defensive behavior was once characterized by great quality is proven by the recent past, in which Union's compactness has been lost. As great as the desire is to finally play successful football in which you can set your own tone in the game, it is obvious that not every team succeeds in this - or that perhaps not every team is capable of it. Union, which now plays with a back four under new coach Mauro Lustrinelli, has become vulnerable at the back: After the 3:3 at the start of the season against Eintracht Frankfurt and the 0:4 at Bayer Leverkusen, there was a 1:3 at home against newly promoted Schalke 04 on Friday evening.

"The fact is, we concede too many goals. Goals are conceded too easily and we lose our strength, so to speak," said leading player Rani Khedira after the second defeat of the season. If it weren't for Frederik Rönnow in goal, who thwarted several great chances both against Leverkusen (0:4) and against Schalke, things would look even bleaker. “Too many gifts,” criticized coach Lustrinelli. Robin Gosens (25th minute), Adil Aouchiche (46th) and Maximilian Wöber (90th + 13th) scored the goals for Schalke, Tim Skarke (90th + 6th) scored for Union.

Of the 14 matches this season, including all test and competitive games, Union was only able to survive one game without conceding a goal - in the charity kick against eighth division club Grün-Weiss Lüben (16:0). In the first round of the DFB Cup, Union was behind twice against second division team Eintracht Braunschweig, but was able to win the game 4-2 in the end.

“We can't concede three things every game because scoring four goals every game is difficult,” warned Tom Rothe, who played on the left of the back four against Schalke, with Josip Juranovic playing on his right. In the center, Leopold Querfeld and Felix Uduokhai formed the central defender duo. Two top defenders, Diego Leite and Danilho Doekhi, left Union for free during the summer break. The Portuguese and the Dutchman now play at Lazio.

What is noticeable now is that Union often only wakes up and creates chances when the game is actually almost lost. That's how it was against Frankfurt, that's how it was against Schalke. Union suddenly played powerfully - and had its opportunities. But along with the defensive mistakes there was also bad luck. Rothe hit the crossbar (55'), Ljubicic hit the post (87') - and Schalke's goalkeeper Loris Karius made an outstanding save. As in the 0-0 draw against FC Bayern, he was named “Man of the Match”. “Perhaps this energy and willingness to run from minute one would be good,” demanded Rothe after the game.

Lustrinelli actually wants to establish aggressive and courageous offensive football in Köpenick. The club management is ready to give the coach the necessary time for this change. Horst Heldt, the sports director, had only emphasized this during the week - and said that he could already see new accents from the coaching team around Lustrinelli. "He knows how to do it. But it's time travel." According to Heldt, one goal of a changed mindset on the field is to “confidently win games in which we are better.”

But there is obviously still a long way to go until then - and patience is unlikely to be limitless in Berlin either. Despite a ball possession ratio of 66:34 and 505 to 264 passes played, the winner was Schalke 04. Because the guests were more effective - and consistently used the available space. For all three goals conceded, the shooters were completely blank and there was no assignment.

In the third Bundesliga game, Lustrinelli sent a changed central defense onto the pitch for the third time. The players don't feel comfortable in the newly formed back four either. "Of course we still have to get used to it. It's a way," said Rothe. Khedira didn't want the change to count as an excuse. "Every Bundesliga player has to be able to play in a back four. My youth consisted of a back four," said Khedira, whose team has to play away on Friday - at FC Bayern.