Seat on the bench: Why Aljoscha Kemlein is just second choice for Union right now

The success against SV Elversberg (1:0) gave the 1. FC Union Berlin momentum. In this week at least, the mood among the Köpenickers in training was a bit more relaxed. "Victories always help," said coach Mauro Lustrinelli at the press conference before the second home game in a row against Borussia Dortmund (Saturday, 3:00 PM, An der Alten Försterei Stadium). Dortmund between two Champions League games The coach was able to breathe a sigh of relief after his first win in the football Bundesliga. After the disappointing start to the season, some doubts arose for Lustrinelli, which were put aside for at least a week. Against BVB, the Köpenickers are clearer outsiders this time, even though the opponent is between two important Champions League matches. On Wednesday, the team of coach Niko Kovac lost to FK Bodø/Glimt in Norway with 0:1. After the game in Berlin, they continue almost without a break to the game against Sabah FK in Azerbaijan. "Dortmund is used to playing internationally and having this kind of double burden," Lustrinelli has no great hopes that the second-place team will come to the capital in top form. "Nevertheless," he says, "we have a chance to win. This has already happened at An der Alten Försterei in the past." 1. FC Union Berlin: What Role Kovac Played in Baumgart's Dismissal Two years ago, the last victory against Westfalen was achieved with a score of 2:1 (goals: Kevin Vogt, Yorbe Vertessen). In 2019, the 3:1 success in front of a home audience was the first Bundesliga hat-trick in the club's history. At that time, when Marius Bülter scored twice, Aljoscha Kemlein was still a teenager. The 22-year-old managed to make the leap from the youth performance center to the pros in the following years; in the last two seasons, it was almost steadily upward for him. In the games in Munich (0:7) and most recently against Elversberg, he was only on the bench. Currently, in the midfield area, Rani Khedira, Michel Aebischer, and the very strong András Schäfer against Elversberg are in the lead. "He trains very well, gives incredible energy," Lustrinelli praised Kemlein when asked. "The time with the U21 national team did him good; he came back with energy. Nevertheless, there are areas where he needs to improve." Since the three midfielders recently harmonized well, there is no reason for Lustrinelli to change the formation. Kemlein will have to continue to be recommended for good training performances. The coach reassures: "It is normal that the performance curve for a young player does not always show an upward trend. It is a snapshot and he will overcome this phase." Querfeld also has to be on the bench again Against Dortmund, Leopold Querfeld will also have to accept a place on the bench again. After the first official game without conceding, Felix Uduokhai and Zeno Van Den Bosch will once again form the central defense in the four-man line. "We want to get as much continuity as possible into the team. This also applies to the starting lineup, so we will not make many substitutions," Lustrinelli announced. As last weekend, the coach will not have the injured Andrej Ilic, Josip Juranovic, and Stanley Nsoki available. Ilic's absence suggests that Mekhi Gray will be in the lineup again. The 19-year-old experienced his first Bundesliga minutes on the pitch against Elversberg. Your opinion is important to us. Send us your feedback on this article: briefe@berliner-zeitung.de