Union Berlin established itself at lightning velocity within the prime tier after its promotion in 2019, because of rock-solid defensive soccer, and certified for Europe thrice. Hardly any German workforce labored higher in opposition to the ball throughout this era. Stability and compactness have been emphasised a lot on the Alte Försterei that you can nearly see all of them the best way in Berlin’s Westend.
Even when the Köpenick facet slipped into an actual relegation battle for the primary time prior to now two seasons, they might at all times depend on their very own protection. Whereas the offense was among the many league’s most innocent, the backline repeatedly secured essential factors for the capital membership.
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Nevertheless, by September 2025, little of that is still. In three video games, Union conceded a whopping eight objectives and instantly has the worst protection within the league.
The Causes for the Defensive Distress
However why has Frederik Rønnow needed to choose the ball out of his internet extra typically prior to now few weeks than he did over a number of months throughout Urs Fischer’s tenure?
One purpose is Leopold Querfeld: The Austrian developed into probably the most thrilling defensive skills within the Bundesliga final season and was anticipated to take the step as much as defensive chief this summer time. Nevertheless, this improvement didn’t materialize, and the 21-year-old has not too long ago made a number of errors.
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With out Diogo Leite by his facet, Querfeld is instantly fully out of his depth. The Portuguese participant was determined to depart the membership in the summertime, however the switch fell by means of. As a result of Leite was afraid of getting injured, he educated individually for a number of weeks and is now behind in coaching. He has but to make a aggressive look.
However the 26-year-old could also be wanted earlier than anticipated. As a consequence of Tom Rothe’s crimson card suspension, coach Steffen Baumgart is prone to put his wantaway protĂ©gĂ© within the beginning lineup in opposition to Eintracht Frankfurt: “If he regains the health he misplaced in current weeks, he’ll be an excellent various in a short time,” he instructed ‘BZ’ about Leite.
Nevertheless, whether or not he’ll regain a daily beginning spot stays questionable. Throughout his time at 1. FC Köln, Baumgart was already in an identical scenario and didn’t play knowledgeable with an expiring contract and concrete ideas of leaving, regardless of the sporting want: We’re speaking about offensive jewel Justin Diehl, now at VfB Stuttgart, who definitely would have helped Köln of their bleak relegation season of 2023/2024.
Has the Rothe Experiment Already Failed?
However so be it. Errors are, in spite of everything, there to study from. Which brings us to a different purpose for Union’s sudden defensive vulnerability: Throughout preseason, Baumgart surprisingly determined to retrain left-back Tom Rothe as a left center-back.
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Though, really, Baumgart didn’t make that call himself. The thought got here extra from his teaching employees. “That wasn’t my concept in any respect,” the 53-year-old admitted to ‘BZ’, including: “However I wish to attempt issues earlier than I say no.”
To date, although, the experiment has not been profitable. After a 2-1 opening win in opposition to VfB Stuttgart, the Iron Ones have been powerless in opposition to BVB and TSG Hoffenheim, conceding a hefty seven objectives within the course of.
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After all, it could be too simplistic responsible this final result solely on Rothe’s unfamiliar place. Nonetheless, it’s clear that the 20-year-old feels something however snug in his new function. On a number of events, Rothe—who has gained lower than 40 p.c of his floor duels to this point—has seemed poor when conceding objectives. And to make issues worse, he was additionally despatched off with a crimson card in opposition to Hoffenheim. So is it already time to finish the center-back experiment?
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Or was it ever the correct time to start out this experiment in any respect? Trying on the Schleswig-Holstein native’s skilled profession to this point, it’s instantly clear that his strengths lie in assault. Rothe is extraordinarily dynamic and in addition shines as a crosser and supplier. Duel power and build-up play are amongst his main weaknesses.
The teenager himself doesn’t see it any otherwise. “I must work on my defensive sport,” he stated in the summertime after his place change. “I’m attempting to embrace it and make the perfect of it.” However that doesn’t precisely sound enthusiastic.
“Again to the Roots” for Extra Stability?
A right away abandonment of the center-back experiment appears unlikely, nonetheless. The membership signed Derrick Köhn for a stable 4 million euros—a participant with an identical profile to Rothe, who additionally performs in Rothe’s traditional wingback place. Robert Skov is one other participant working the left flank.
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However is that this actually doing the membership any favors on the Alte Försterei? Wouldn’t it have been smarter to step by step introduce Rothe to his new duties? Particularly because the final two seasons and the disastrous preseason rapidly prompt that this yr would once more be all about avoiding relegation.
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For now, one factor is definite: FCU has misplaced its best power and on the identical time “sacrificed” one in all its most essential offensive weapons. In the event that they don’t wish to sink knee-deep into the relegation battle in Berlin’s east, a return to defensive stability is urgently wanted.
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Can Baumgart, who is thought for being fairly cussed, swallow his satisfaction and a minimum of quickly scrap the modifications he initiated? With Leite, he a minimum of has probably the greatest Bundesliga center-backs of current years at his disposal. And even the visibly unsettled Tom Rothe would in all probability thank him for it.
This text was translated into English by Synthetic Intelligence.
📸 Maja Hitij – 2025 Getty Pictures
