Bundesliga football: “A lot is happening”: This is how Union coach Eta experienced the hype

Eta knows about social significance and signaling effect

“I know that this has a social impact and significance and somehow also a signaling effect,” said Eta before the important game in the relegation battle against VfL Wolfsburg on Saturday (3:30 p.m./Sky). “It’s also nice if this opens up paths and doors and creates inspiration, so that young girls can see what’s possible.”

But she was never concerned about the importance of a pioneering role in football. “For me it’s always been about football, for me it’s about working with people. And what I enjoy most is being maximally successful in being together and working together.” She is “not the very first woman to be around in football in general”. There have been female head coaches of men’s teams before her, even if not in such a high league.

This is how Eta experienced the great attention

The 34-year-old’s promotion to head coach, the first woman in Europe’s top five men’s leagues, caused an international stir. Prominent voices from Bayern coach Vincent Kompany to Berlin’s governing mayor Kai Wegner (CDU) expressed themselves positively.

“You can all imagine that I also clearly noticed that a lot was happening outside, but in the end the work process started straight away,” said the youngest coach of the Bundesliga club. Her head is “full of a lot of football and a lot of work and that’s a good thing.”

As with Eta’s first training session in front of the media, the crowds at the press conference in Köpenick were exceptionally high. More than 40 media representatives were in the room, which is otherwise much sparserly filled, a quarter of an hour before the start. Journalists from France and Austria also asked questions.

Lots of news for the trainer – also from her predecessor Baumgart

“Of course a lot has already happened on the cell phone. I’ve actually already put a lot aside,” said Eta. The messages from family and closest friends in particular would have meant a lot to her.

Her predecessor Steffen Baumgart also got in touch, the 34-year-old said. “I received a voice message from Steffen and I was very happy about it. He wished me good luck for the next games and was very positive and passionate.”

The trainer did not concern herself with the fact that many sexists, especially on social media, felt called upon to comment on her appointment with hate messages. “I don’t read comments, I didn’t before and there wasn’t time for it now,” she said.

This is what Eta says about her team

Regarding her actual task, Eta said: “I think it’s positive how the boys were on the pitch, how they are together, how they supported each other in the training sessions.” She feels a good energy in the team, but “of course, the self-confidence isn’t huge right now.”

The Eisernen’s collapse this year with only 2 wins from 14 games ultimately led to their separation from Eta’s predecessor Baumgart, despite the still comfortable lead over the relegation zone.

The time is too short to “turn everything upside down,” said Eta. It’s not about “suddenly playing tiki-taka football.” She mentioned defensive stability and intensity against the ball as key words. With a win against Lower Saxony, Union would at least have averted direct relegation and the gap to the relegation place would remain at least seven points.

And what happens next in summer?

And then? “I’ll definitely still be a trainer next year, yes,” Eta happily accepted a somewhat imprecise question. The 34-year-old is actually supposed to become head coach of Union’s women’s Bundesliga team next season.

But managing director Horst Heldt deliberately left the door open for a long-term commitment with the men on Monday: “At this point in time, it wouldn’t make sense to rule anything out. We basically have a plan for how things will continue. But we’ll see about that.”

The 34-year-old also didn’t rule anything out. “I had great discussions, I signed the contract with full conviction and everything else will be seen,” she said, referring to her working paper with the women.