Trimmel and Khedira are no longer indispensable at the 1. FC Union

At the 1st FC Union Berlin you currently have many problems and Steffen Baumgart trouble on Thursday not to open another large construction site. “Both will continue to play an important role,” said Union coaches regarding Christopher Trimmel and Rani Khedira.

The captain and his representative had not stood in the starting eleven in the past two games against Mainz 05 (2-1) and FC St. Pauli (0: 3), and they even sat on the bench for 90 minutes in the clear defeat in Hamburg . Trimmel and Khedira had been set for years and had a large part in the fairytale successes under Urs Fischer.

The Austrian, now 37 years old, has slowly got used to the fact that he is no longer indispensable in terms of sport. In three and a half years in Berlin, it was only the second time for the midfield chief that he was in the squad but was not used. Union without Trimmel and Khedira – that was unthinkable for years.

However, Baumgart did not want his decisions of the past few weeks to be understood as a fundamental awareness of leaders Trimmel and Khedira. After the victory against Mainz, he simply did not see any reason for change, which should be different after the weak performance at St. Pauli.

Recently, Rönnow and Vogt were also missing

“I see that both of them are fighting and fighting for their places,” said Baumgart before the home game against lawn ball sport Leipzig on Saturday (6.30 p.m., Sky). Trimmel and Khedira are also important for the team away from the field and have good chances of being able to participate in the lawn soon.

The fact that Kevin Vogt with knee problems and Frederik Rönnow were recently missing due to the aftermath of his elbow injury was significantly shaken by the statics of the Berlin game. Rönnow, Vogt and Khedira in particular often formed a stabilizing axis.

Against Leipzig, Rönnow will return into the goal after five missed games. At Vogt, Baumgart did not want to finally commit itself, but the use of the central defender would be extremely important. Since Leopold crossing is missing yellow -locked, there is a defensive shortage of personnel.

Should the knee problems continue to battle, Union would have to change from three to four chains again or convert a player from another position to a central defender. However, Baumgart hopes that this will not be necessary. “We are confident about Kevin.”

Balance act for Baumgart

The fact that long -time leaders are currently wobbling fits the impression that the Union has been releasing for months. The certainties disappear, it is tried, it is tinkered, but it doesn’t get any better. At the beginning of the season the Esprit was missing, and stability is now missing.

It is a difficult situation for Baumgart that has to do a balancing act. On the one hand, he has to give the team new impulses, make the game faster and more powerful. Khedira, who scratched the door to the national team before the 2022 World Cup, is not a great help in the current form. His offensive influence has always been manageable, but in the end he rarely managed to give the team stability.

On the other hand, the Berliners need just one of the last 13 competitive games in this difficult situation – and the lead over the relegation zone shrinks every week – experienced leaders who can hold the team. In the past few weeks, this has been too rare, with and without the two leaders on the pitch.