Union Berlin’s 2-1 defeat against Feyenoord Rotterdam has several reasons. “Simply bitter” it was according to Marvin Friedrich, who came to the defence of goalkeeper Andreas Luthe after the latter’s gross blunder.
It was the scene of the game. Union Berlin keeper Luthe took the ball briefly after a back pass from defender Tymoteusz Puchacz – but then slipped away in his own five-metre area. The goalkeeper was then forced to watch as Feyenoord Rotterdam’s Cyriel Dessers slid in easily for the 2-1 final score.
But the mistake of the tragic figure of the Köpenicker was not the only reason for the next defeat in the Europa Conference League. “We come out of the half-time break well. We have chances, but we don’t take them,” knew centre-back Friedrich, who was back on the pitch for the first time after his Corona infection – and then right from the start.
He emphatically did not blame his goalkeeper for that. “He is playing an outstanding season,” Friedrich replied rather, to say even more clearly: “He is our backstop, mistakes just happen. Especially with this pitch.” Rani Khedira stood by Luthe as well. On “such a shitty pitch” in the sold-out, but rain-soaked Berlin Olympiastadion, such a mistake can certainly happen, one has to be honest, the midfielder said on RTL+. “It’s not Andy’s fault.
Still, Union Berlin remain in last place in Group E of the ECL after four match days and have little chance of progressing. On top of that, captain Christopher Trimmel and attacker Cedric Teuchert will each miss at least one game due to their sending-offs. “It’s just bitter that we didn’t win here,” Friedrich made clear after what was actually a good performance by his team.
