Three corners, a penalty – every child knows this rule on the soccer field. In the cages of this city, the exchange is definitely advisable, after all, flanks are not a tried and tested means there. But even in professional football, the soccer field law would be a blessing for the attacking team. Statistically, penalties have a 75 percent probability of success, but even with real specialists it takes an average of more than ten corners before a goal is scored.
At 1. FC Union they would probably prefer to keep their corners at the moment, because the Berliners have shown extreme weaknesses from the penalty spot this season. Jordan Siebatcheu Pefok’s missed shot in the 3-1 home win against Hoffenheim on Saturday was his second this season, and Union also has a miserable rate as a team.
Only one of five penalties in the Bundesliga was converted, by Sven Michel to an insignificant consolation goal in the last game before the winter break against Freiburg. “We don’t have such a good series there,” said Urs Fischer. “We have to do better because if you can take the lead with a penalty, that can help you.”
We changed the game with set pieces. We practice this a lot and we know it’s a weapon.
Danilho Doekhi after his brace against Hoffenheim
Missing shot Jordan didn’t want to blame the Union coach. The team practiced penalties on Friday and the striker confidently converted all attempts. “But a final training session is not a match day. Jordan has to deal with that now, ”said Fischer.
He was able to take the weaknesses from the penalty spot quite easily on Saturday because his team turned the game around with an enormous improvement in performance in the second half and returned to third place after the small dry spell at the end of last year. “For a long time it was seen as a weakness that we weren’t able to react when we were behind. Now we’ve done it one time or another. I think that gives us a certain confidence,” said the coach.
In addition, Union’s standard strength, which had been feared for a long time, could be seen again on Saturday. The equalizer and the opening goal both came in the same pattern. Corner Christopher Trimmel, header Danilho Doekhi. “We changed the game with standard situations,” said the double goalscorer. “We practice this a lot and we know it’s a weapon.”
In the first two years in the Bundesliga, strength from corners and free kicks helped Union through some weak phases. At times Trimmel was the most dangerous standard shooter in the league and shone with a total of 21 assists. He couldn’t confirm these outstanding statistics last season, he didn’t manage a single assist. But now he has already assisted five goals in all competitions. “The corner kicks were great, the timing was right,” praised Fischer.
As captain and longest-serving Union professional, Trimmel doesn’t have to prove anything to anyone, but his strong performance against Hoffenheim with two goals and several other offensive actions definitely came at the right time. After the surprising departure of Julian Ryerson to Dortmund, Trimmel’s potential new challenger was expected in Berlin on Sunday – and the impending transfer is a tough one.
Josip Juranovic is set to join Union from Celtic. His trainer at Celtic Glasgow, Ange Postecoglou, confirmed on Saturday that the 27-year-old right-back had clearance and was on his way to Berlin for a medical check-up. With Croatia, Juranovic surprisingly finished third at the World Cup a few weeks ago and played in six of the seven games. Subsequently, an alleged interest from FC Barcelona was reported.
According to the Scottish newspaper “Daily Record”, Union should pay a transfer fee of the equivalent of 8.5 million euros plus bonus payments. Juranovic would replace Taiwo Awoniyi (8.5 million euros) as the most expensive signing.
For Trimmel, the Croatian would be both a relief and a competitor. With a heavy load in three competitions, a second right-back is essential and in Juranovic Union would not have found just a short-term substitute like Bastian Oczipka was at left-back last season.
However, experience and the past have shown that it takes time to internalize the processes in Fischer’s system – especially since regular team training is currently hardly possible due to the many games. Tymoteusz Puchacz, who also came to Berlin in the summer of 2021 after the European Championships with high expectations, was never able to meet them and has now been awarded for the second time.
However, Juranovic still seems to be significantly stronger and more mature than the Pole – and Trimmel is still an important support even at the age of almost 36. On Wednesday (8.30 p.m.) at Werder Bremen, the captain will certainly work the right flank again and let the corners sail in the direction of Doekhi.
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