Farewell: Düsseldorfers relegate, Michael Parensen (center) ends his career after eleven and a half years in a Union jersey.
Foto: imago images/Contrast
At some point, the Union fans on the forest side behind the Alte Försterei, who were even more numerous than at the last home games, could not keep up. In the first half, the cheerfully shouts “relegation, relegation” echoed four times in the stadium – after three Bremen goals against Cologne and the Berlin goal against Düsseldorf. The Fortuna had actually come to Köpenick to defend the relegation spot in the remote duel with SV Werder. And lost. Because Dusseldorf team offered far too little in the 0: 3 against Union and Bremen had won 6: 1 against 1. FC Köln.
The antipathy between the supporters of Union Berlin and Fortuna, which arose in joint second division years, was the least problem for the Düsseldorfers on Saturday in front of empty ranks. Most were concerned with themselves. Too much. “We didn’t do anything to make things work out differently,” the experienced midfielder Adam Bodzek honestly analyzed. Only the lineup was brave. But apart from a desperate offensive in the last 20 minutes, the 3-4-3 offensive could hardly pose a danger. The apparently excessive pressure of the relegation endgame resulted in tears for many after the final whistle. And in view of his own failure, allegations against Bodzek’s arch rival 1. FC Köln from Düsseldorf, which allowed six Bremen goals, were prohibited. “We should only look at ourselves,” the 34-year-old judged pleasantly reserved.
After the sixth relegation to the Bundesliga – just in the 125th year of the club’s foundation – Fortuna will have to deal with itself even more intensively. 17 player contracts expire. One should stay. “Of course,” said Dusseldorf’s sports director Uwe Klein, the club with coach Uwe Rösler go into the second division. The native of Thuringia came at the end of January as a beacon of hope. Until then, the 51-year-old had only worked as a coach abroad. Although he was only able to get two wins in 15 games, the former GDR international can prove a little longer in his home country 18 years after his last engagement in Germany.
A circle also closed for Union. Shortly before the game ended, Suleiman Abdullahi scored the 3-0 final score. With his last goal to date, the Nigerian paved the way to the Bundesliga thirteen months ago in a 2-2 defeat at VfB Stuttgart. In the football upper house, relegation was secured two matchdays before the end. “41 points in the first season – that’s extraordinary,” said coach Urs Fischer proudly on Saturday. Many Unioners should be just as proud that city rival Hertha BSC, which has invested well over 200 million euros from investor Lars Windhorst, is only tenth by one place and six goals.
Accordingly, there was a party at the Alte Försterei before the kick-off against Düsseldorf. Around 200 fans received the team loudly and with colorful pyrotechnics. Behind the stadium on the forest side, it remained cheerfully loud during the 90 minutes. This is exactly where the team followed the calls of the fans after the game: “We want to see the team.” The players came, threw jerseys over the fence and, after the successful completion and the dreary atmosphere of the ghost game, enjoyed the warm closeness. By far, of course.
The team definitely deserved it. As always, the defense was disciplined. And the greater will that would have been expected from the Düsseldorfers was rewarded. After a corner kick, Antony Ujah took the lead after 26 minutes with a dust, Christian Gentner made it 2-0 nine minutes after the restart. And because the whole season was worked “at the limit”, coach Fischer said: “Everyone in the club is happy that it’s over now.”
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