Under dour skies, 1. FC Union Berlin’s Bundesliga squad headed to the local sportsground for the last time today (Tuesday). Knowing that by 12:00 everything would be done and dusted, and this year’s training camp would be history, everyone gathered themselves for one last effort and completed the final, wide ranging exercises.
Despite the inevitable onset of heavy rain, the players in particular enjoyed the first passing session and let even the last fans there get in on the fun with their loud cheering.
Afterwards, particularly the goalkeepers got their money’s worth. On the increasingly wet training pitch, they were able to demonstrate their aerial skills during a session of crosses and finishing. Here, too, the spectators could hear one or two celebratory cheers for a goal or curses about a goal against.
Exhausted and tired from the past few days, the players had an 11 vs 11 game to round off the day, and the training camp presented by sonnenschutz.de. With head coach Urs Fischer manning the whistle, at least one half of the squad was cheering after about 25 minutes. The other, as losers, had drawn the short straw and had to gather up the training gear.
“We were able to carry out what we had planned very well,” said Union’s head coach, fischer, at the end of the day’s work. “Sure, the condition of the pitch was poor a couple of times because of the weather, but it worked and we didn’t have to adjust anything either. The groundsmen, the hotel, everyone was very eager to fulfil our every wish. The team also made very good progress, especially the many new players. At the end of the day, that’s what a coach wants to see.”
Quote of the day: “Maybe there will be another step backwards, but then you just have to take two steps forward again.” – Urs Fischer’s statement on the findings of the last few days
Tomorrow, Wednesday, the Union squad will make its way back to Berlin-Köpenick. The team, coaching staff and staff are expected back at the stadium An der Alten Försterei at around 16:30 pm.