The situation at 1. FC Union is getting worse and worse

He and his team didn’t stick to the match plan against HSV, he was annoyed. “If you actually analyze the opponent very, very well all week and then exactly that happens, then it’s simply not implemented well,” said the 38-year-old. “And that’s really just up to us players. We have to look after ourselves.”

After seven games without a win, Trimmel described the situation as “already dangerous” twelve game days before the end of the season. Now the hot phase is coming soon. “The last ten games, I always say, are where a lot of things are decided. We’re currently in a bad phase in terms of the result and we have to get out of there,” said Union’s right-back. There would be weeks “where I would hold the players responsible.”

Trimmel spoke entirely in the spirit of his coach. Steffen Baumgart had imagined his return to the Volksparkstadion to be completely different. The 54-year-old trained his favorite club, HSV, in the second division from February to November 2024. When he met again, there was an exchange of pleasantries before kick-off. But that was all over in the game. The Hamburgers relentlessly exposed Union’s current weaknesses.

Union makes it too easy for HSV

“We defend as a collective and we attack as a collective. And at the moment we’re not doing that well enough to win games,” said Baumgart. “You have to be clear and precise.” He hopes that this will be resolved soon.

The three goals conceded by Hamburg’s Ransford Königsdörffer and Nicolas Capaldo came in the way that Baumgart had warned his team about. With quick switching play, HSV undermined the Berlin defense. “We can and must defend this better,” said Baumgart.

Union’s situation is not yet dramatic. With 25 points, the Berliners are six points ahead of SV Werder Bremen, who are in the relegation relegation zone. HSV also has 25 points in one game less. Despite the equality of points, Baumgart sees a serious difference between his former and his current club.

“HSV has an upward spiral, we have a downward spiral,” he said. “Our performance may be okay. But we make mistakes that you shouldn’t make if you want to pass. We are critical and very honest with each other.”

You would have to find solutions. “The situation is not easy when you haven’t won seven games,” said Union’s coach. “But it’s not unsolvable either.” They just have to “get their virtues on the pitch. That’s not there in certain phases in some games.”