Union's Kevin Behrens (l) and goalscorer Rani Khedira celebrate the 1-0 victory. ©
The fairytale rise of 1. FC Union Berlin continues. Next season, the Köpenick team will play in the premier class. Still a little incredulous, but exuberant, the Berliners celebrate.
Berlin - The Köpenick fans jumped in the pyro fog, a completely hoarse singer sang "FC Union international" and on the balcony in front of the main stand, managing director Oliver Ruhnert got a beer shower from striker Kevin Behrens. "We'll get the Champions League together, won't we?" the managing director asked the group, got approval loudly and then sang along with a song. Coach Urs Fischer gave him a motto that is typical of him: "On days like this, you shouldn't talk a lot, but celebrate."
Because the 27th of May became a holiday again in the eastern part of the capital. Exactly four years after promotion to the Bundesliga, 1. FC Union Berlin is in the Champions League after the 1-0 (0-0) against Werder Bremen. At the end of a sensational season.
For the third year in a row, Union qualifies for international business. In the first half of the season, the Köpenickers even led the table for several weeks. Only after two matchdays did the team not stand in a Champions League place. Union have not lost in the league for 23 games at the Alte Försterei. A club that plays in one of the loudest, but also the smallest stadium in the league and is far from the top in terms of budget.
For months, the Iron had waved off when it came to the chances of reaching the Champions League. "We think game by game" and the 40-point mark could not be missing from any answer. "At some point, fun got serious," said Rani Khedira, who scored the goal of the day in the 81st minute. "It was an explosion of emotions at that moment," he said.
Union seized the opportunity with its usual energy performance. The team hit 22 crosses and 15 corners. But the goal was a long time coming. "Then football actually writes such stories that you somehow get a stupid goal conceded, and then you really run after it," Khedira said.
In addition, SC Freiburg, the last remaining competitor for the open Champions League place, led in Frankfurt in the meantime. Khedira's flick into the right corner was good for the nerves. But Fischer also praised: "But what I have to say and what I'm really proud of is how calm the team has remained." The result of the competition was not an issue at half-time. "The goal was to play exactly the same in the second half." Union had to exert pressure without leaving too many gaps.
The Bremen team had already secured relegation and mainly defended. But this stubbornly. Ole Werner was annoyed that his team could not reward themselves for a performance at eye level, but also said: "The team, club, fans, staff, everyone can be proud of what we have achieved. To keep up the class as a newcomer without us really having to tremble." In addition, attacker Niclas Füllkrug won the top scorer's crown.
In the end, however, there was the Berlin reward through Khedira on Saturday. Fischer did not think about his own gestures of jubilation. "I don't know what I did. I don't practice this at home either. But I'm assuming that I made the fist because I was incredibly happy to have finally scored this goal," said the 57-year-old.
"So much shit, Champions League," the Union fans sang ironically. The famous anthem of the premier class came out of the speakers in the stadium. He doesn't have words for it yet, Fischer said. "I think I'll have to let it sink in a little longer." And less chatting and more partying was on the agenda anyway. Dpa
