"Before the game against Lokomotiv Moscow on Wednesday, I said we had to win. That also applies to tomorrow's game against Union Berlin," said the Werkself head coach at the pre-match press conference on Friday afternoon. The 2-1 defeat in the long-awaited return to the Champions League was painful. "That's why I’m glad we have the next game three days later and the chance to do better tomorrow," declared Peter Bosz ahead of the first Bundesliga meeting with Union.
Up to now there have been two games in the DFB Cup that the Werkself clearly won on both occasions: In October 2017 there was a 4-1 win at home and in October 2003 a 5-0 victory in Berlin. However, it is clear the Bundesliga newcomers should not be underestimated following their surprise 3-1 win against Borussia Dortmund before the international break. And the team coached by Urs Fischer competed all the way in the 2-1 defeat at Werder Bremen last weekend.
"Union Berlin are a team that – as last year in the second division – can get forward very quickly and are very dangerous in counter-attacks," said Bosz ahead of his reunion with the former player Sheraldo Becker, one of the quickest players in Germany's top flight. Therefore, his team needs to be wide-awake above all in defence. "When we have the ball and play with the lot of space behind us, then we have to be very well organised at the back. If we lose the ball then we have to put pressure back on the ball straightaway," demanded the coach.
And Bosz is also looking for improvement up front. "The last games have all looked similar: We've had a lot of possession. But what have we done with that possession? We have created too few goalscoring opportunities," said the 55-year-old bringing up a painful subject. As his team never refuses to give up – as in the performance in the second half against Lokomotiv Moscow on Wednesday – the Dutchman is certain that success will return soon. "It's a fact that there are lots of teams who sit back against us. Therefore it's an advantage for us if we score the first goal," he explained before adding: "But when we don't score the first goal then we have to carry on playing our game, move the ball quickly, try to get into the box and get enough players into the box. Then the goals will come. It's important the players have that confidence."
Leon Bailey is definitely unavailable for the Werkself against Union Berlin. The 22-year-old Jamaican suffered a muscle injury against Lokomotiv Moscow and is ruled out for the next few weeks. And there is also the possibility of another player being unavailable: Kerem Demirbay did return to the training ground yesterday after back problems but Peter Bosz left open the question of whether the midfielder would be fit for tomorrow's game.
Match information:
Referee: Robert Hartmann (Ingolstadt)
Weather forecast: 23 degrees, sunny
TV broadcaster: Sky Bundesliga 3 (Commentator: Jonas Friedrich)
Matchday hashtag: #B04FCU
The matchday ticket offices are open from 13.30 CET.
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