Torsten Mattuschka Optimistic About Union Berlin’s Bundesliga Future

Ex-Union player Torsten Mattuschka speaks in the “kicker Daily” podcast about the latest developments at the Iron Men and is optimistic about staying in the league.

Ex-Union player, now assistant coach in the regional league: Torsten Mattuschka. IMAGO/Oliver Ruhnke

Union Berlin’s season is multi-faceted. On the one hand, brilliant evenings in the Champions League, on the other hand, a rusty relegation battle in the Bundesliga. The former Unioner and current assistant coach of regional league team VSG Altglienicke Torsten Mattuschka looks at his favorite club in a cheerful mood despite the high fall this season: “The change of coach was extremely right and important,” he says with a view to yesterday’s exit by Nenad Bjelica.

“The coaching team Grote, Eta and Bönig is exactly the right decision”

Mattuschka is happy about the coaching team, which consists of head coach Marco Grote, assistant coach Marie-Louise Eta and assistant coach Sebastian Bönig. The three of them have already trained the team in the constellation after Urs Fischer’s dismissal, which is why the decision is “exactly the right one” from the 43-year-old’s point of view. At the same time, the former midfielder also warns: “These are not the magical saviors.”

Did the Bjelica exit come too late, Torsten Mattuschka?

Chaos at Union Berlin: Two match days before the end, the club fired coach Nenad Bjelica. Union icon Torsten Mattuschka explains in the talk whether the decision comes too late. Also: The three keys for BVB to progress in Paris.

07.05.24 – 16:43 17:00 minutes

Together with “Tusche”, the “kicker Daily” hosts Caroline Labes and Carsten Schröter-Lorenz are revisiting the chronology surrounding the Bjelica exit. From the exclusive announcement in kicker that it would be over in the summer, to the subsequent support from Union President Dirk Zingler last Sunday, to the final release of the Croatian coach. “I think he (Zingler, Anm. d. Red.) hoped that this six-point home game against Bochum would be won. “It’s normal and right to support the coach before the game,” says Mattuschka. But parting ways in the summer – after the season – would have been the better option.

Transfers didn’t work

Regardless of whether it was a Robin Gosens for up to 15 million, a Kevin Volland for four million or a free transfer Leonardo Bonucci – “If they don’t work, you have to moderate these guys differently than a Sven Michel or a Marius Bülter,” criticizes Mattuschka how to deal with the prominent arrivals of summer 2023.

But he doesn’t see the large squad as a reason for this: “You have to be well positioned in three competitions.” Maybe the club wanted too much too quickly, Mattschuka speculates. “I can understand that you want to get stuck in there, but it just didn’t work out this season,” he adds.

Tusche is hoping for a sixth Bundesliga season in a row

Points must be gained against Cologne (Saturday, 3:30 p.m., LIVE! on kicker) and Freiburg on matchday 34 so that Mattuschka’s optimism comes true and the Iron Men stay in class.

2024-05-07 16:03:14
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