The last-minute departure of national soccer player Robin Gosens on the day of the match caused a lot of discontent at 1. FC Union Berlin. “I have to be honest: It’s a catastrophe,” said captain Rani Khedira on DAZN, referring to the transfer decision that was made just before the home game against FC St. Pauli (1:0) on the last day of the transfer window in Germany. Gosens will be loaned to AC Florence in the Italian Serie A.
“The smart people should think about the fact that we are football players, but we are also human beings,” appealed Khedira. Gosens stood there “almost with tears in his eyes” and was “completely distraught.” “At lunch it was clear that he would stay with us, that he would play. And then two hours later, after his afternoon nap, we got the news that it was going to work out after all,” explained Khedira.
“Very, very difficult for a team”
The timing was not satisfactory for the team. “I find it strange if you have to deal with that on match day,” Khedira continued. “Either you do it after the match day or definitely before the match day. But not on the match day itself. That is very, very difficult for a team.”
Managing director Horst Heldt only made it public shortly before the match against newly promoted St. Pauli that Gosens was leaving the club. “Until ten past four, I assumed that Robin would be on the pitch and playing today. Then the news came and then we implemented it,” Heldt explained the process on Friday afternoon.
Svensson: “Very, very strange day”
Coach Bo Svensson said it was a “very, very strange day” when you lose a player three and a half hours before the game starts. “Of course you can say that they are professionals and they have to deal with it.” The thoughts for the game changed within “a few minutes,” “of course that’s just not that easy.”