Union Berlin president Dirk Zingler has offered a clear assessment of the club’s current sporting direction and the future of head coach Mauro Lustrinelli, speaking publicly at an event in Berlin-Köpenick following a difficult start to the Bundesliga season. As reported by welt.de, Zingler addressed the mounting pressure at the club, the tactical evolution under the Swiss manager, and the strict professional boundaries he maintains with his coaching staff.
The club entered the recent fixture against SV Elversberg under considerable strain after a poor start to the campaign that yielded just one point and 17 conceded goals across four matches. A narrow 1:0 victory over the newly promoted side provided immediate relief, allowing Union Berlin and Lustrinelli some breathing room ahead of upcoming fixtures.
Sticking with Lustrinelli Amid Tactical Shifts
His appointment was tied directly to an internal desire to reshape Union’s style of play. While former coach Urs Fischer built five years of immense success primarily on resolute defensive stability and direct play, the club’s leadership sought a more proactive approach.
Zingler defended the manager amid public scrutiny and early setbacks, noting that heavy defeats against Bayer Leverkusen (0:4) and Bayern Munich (0:7) were anticipated matches where points were unlikely. We are not holding personnel discussions,
Zingler said, as reported by welt.de. We hired him with the desire and the task to change our football a little bit. That is what he is doing now.
The most visible tactical alteration under Lustrinelli has been a shift from a back-three to a back-four defensive structure. The team now presses earlier and aims to generate more scoring opportunities through sustained possession rather than relying predominantly on set-pieces or long balls. Zingler noted that against Elversberg, elements of the manager’s intended style were visible, though he acknowledged that evaluating long-term sustainability will take time.
Maintaining Professional Distance with Coaching Staff
Reflecting on personnel management, Zingler detailed his deliberate approach to working relationships within the club. He explained that he intentionally maintains a degree of distance from individuals who might eventually become the subjects of difficult employment decisions.
Recalling the departure of Urs Fischer in November 2023 following a prolonged winless run, Zingler revealed that the formal separation was conducted with strict professional formality. Up until the conversation where we decided to part ways, we used the formal ‘Sie’,
Zingler stated, according to welt.de, adding that the shift to the informal ‘Du’ only occurred after the mutual decision to end their professional collaboration was finalized.
Zingler also emphasized that major decisions at Union Berlin are never made in isolation. Because decisions carry significant financial implications, they are handled collectively by a leadership group rather than attributed to a single individual.
Looking Ahead to the Match Against Borussia Dortmund
With the victory over Elversberg serving as a temporary stabilizer, Union Berlin turns its attention to its next challenge. Borussia Dortmund is scheduled to visit the Stadion an der Alten Försterei on Saturday, providing an immediate test of whether the team’s tactical development can withstand elite Bundesliga opposition.
Zingler reiterated that while the club evaluates player buy-in and tactical execution continuously, the current coaching staff retains full backing. We protect our employees as long as we believe it still works,
Zingler said, as reported by welt.de. When we no longer believe in it, then we make decisions. But with Mauro Lustrinelli, we are a very long way from that.
Worth a look
