Our next opponents: New head coach and style of play for Union Berlin

Position

Following a mixed run of results in preseason, the team, coach, club management and the Union fans were all equally keen to see how the start of the new season would go. Union only won three of their ten preseason friendlies.

So, following their 4–2 victory away at Eintracht Braunschweig in the first round of the DFB Pokal, there was certainly a sense of relief amongst the side from Köpenick. After all, they went behind twice but still managed to win the game in the end. Not least because a substitution paid off: Marin Ljubicic first set up the equaliser at 2-2 and then scored the other two goals himself. “Braunschweig were probably the toughest draw we could have got in the first round,” said midfielder Rani Khedira after progressing to the second round. “We prepared well for the match. Even though we fell behind twice, we came back both times. That was also a common theme in our preparations: dealing well with setbacks and always staying focused as we carry on playing.”

Full concentration was also required a week later in the Bundesliga opener against Eintracht Frankfurt. At the An der Alten Försterei stadium, the home side – who finished eleventh in the table last season – got off to a dream start: As early as the fourth minute, new signing Emmanuel Latte Lath headed home from a corner by Josip Juranovic to give the home side the lead. However, Eintracht Frankfurt turned the match around thanks to a hat-trick from Younes Ebnoutalib (10’, 11’, 67’). But the Irons once again showed their resilience. Early in the closing stages, Leopold Querfeld scored again from a Juranovic corner to pull one back (79’) and then, in the second minute of stoppage time, set up Tim Skarke’s equaliser. “Overall, I’m happy with our performance and think we absolutely deserved the point,” said Union’s new head coach Mauro Lustrinelli after his first Bundesliga game. “Especially after going 3-1 down, we created numerous chances, showed great spirit and believed in ourselves right up to the last minute. We can build on this performance and this attitude in the coming weeks.”​

Personnel

Last season, Mauro Lustrinelli led FC Thun to their first-ever Swiss Super League title with 80 goals scored – and they had only just been promoted. At Thun, the 50-year-old served as assistant manager under Urs Fischer in 2013; Fischer went on to take Union Berlin into the Bundesliga a few years later and he guided them to UEFA Champions League qualification in 2023. Now, the next Swiss coach is set to embark on a new chapter with the Köpenick-based club, aiming to lead Union back up the table with a new approach. “He has shown in recent years how he can shape and develop teams,” said Union sporting director, Horst Heldt. “What’s more, his approach to the game fits in with our vision. We want to be more proactive, integrate more young players and achieve success together.”

Lustrinelli favours a 4-2-2-2 formation. The manager relies on high pressing and quick transitions. “We want to play attacking football with intensity, dynamism and energy. To be successful, we need a strong team and the right winning mindset,” said the Swiss coach. He will not only have to change the basic tactical formation from a back three with two defensive wing-backs to a back four, but will also have to make changes to the squad.

Two long-serving key players and centre-backs, Danilho Doekhi and Diogo Leite, have left the club. Zeno Van Den Bosch (Royal Antwerp), Marvin Friedrich (Borussia Mönchengladbach) and, most recently, Felix Uduokhai (Beşiktaş) have been signed to fill the central positions in the defence. The latter is a familiar face from the Bundesliga, having played for both VfL Wolfsburg and FC Augsburg. Stanley Nsoki and Leopold Querfeld are also available as centre-backs. Union veteran and captain Christopher Trimmel, aged 39, is no longer always the first choice at right-back, a position where the Croatian Josip Juranovic has recently had the edge. In central midfield, Lustrinelli is likely to be able to call upon two tried-and-tested players in Rani Khedira and Aljoscha Kemlein.

New signing Michel Aebischer is also expected to provide balance and stability. The Switzerland World Cup player is regarded as an all-rounder and can play as a number six or eight. Union have bolstered their attack with the signing of Emmanuel Latte Lath. The 27-year-old Ivorian has joined Union on loan from Atlanta United in the Major League Soccer, having previously spent two years with Middlesbrough in the English second tier. Shortly before the end of the transfer window, Union also signed Kastriot Imeri, a player much sought after by Lustrinelli, who had previously worked with the attacking midfielder at FC Thun. However, Imeri will not yet be able to play against Bayer 04 due to thigh problems. Union are also likely to be without strikers Oliver Burke (Achilles tendon problems) and Andrej Ilic (food poisoning) for the match in Leverkusen.

Problems

Things are still far from running smoothly for the Köpenick side. Transition to the new style of play takes time. What became apparent during preseason continued in the opening friendly at Eintracht Braunschweig and also in the Bundesliga opener against Eintracht Frankfurt: the high line and aggressive pressing were only partially effective, and there were at times large gaps between the different sections of the team. And even in the new back four, the right positioning and coordination were sometimes lacking. Club president Dirk Zingler had already said during the training camp in Austria, looking ahead to the start of the season: “We’re prepared for the fact things might be a bit bumpy at the start. That may well be the case, but we’ll have to keep our cool then.” In any case, they are currently still some way off the defensive stability that has always been one of Union Berlin’s strengths in recent years. Conceding five goals in the first two matches is proof of that.

Performers

Two goals from set pieces in the 4–2 win against Braunschweig, two more from corners in the 3–3 draw with Eintracht Frankfurt: the Irons are extremely dangerous and efficient from set pieces. They have also proved to be extremely resilient in their first two matches, coming back into the game on both occasions after falling behind – so the team’s attitude and courage are spot on. On the opening day of the season, Union won the most tackles of any Bundesliga team against the Frankfurt side. This, too, speaks to the high intensity of the capital club’s game. Furthermore, players such as Burke, Latte Lath, Skarke and Imeri bring a lot of pace to the attack.