Soccer – Berlin – Unions Ruhnert: Club in a good location for the European Cup entry – Sport
Berlin (dpa) – Union managing director Oliver Ruhnert expects a close fight for the European Cup places for the iron in the Bundesliga. “I think it will remain very, very close until the last day of the game, as it is in the relegation battle,” said Ruhnert on Sunday in Sport1’s “double pass”. “But of course we still have a good chance in the league.” The Köpenickers are currently in seventh place, which could be enough for the Conference League depending on the outcome of the DFB Cup semifinals. After the world’s first goal of the season of 40 points, the Irons had announced that they now wanted to attack the European Cup places.
On the other hand, Ruhnert described a move into the Europa League via the DFB Cup – Union will play in the semifinals on April 20 at RB Leipzig – as “extremely difficult”. There is a clear difference between the Conference League, in which the Berliners competed this season, and the Europa League, said the 50-year-old. “Conference League is plus minus zero.”
Nevertheless, the appearance in the European Cup and the successes in the Bundesliga did a lot for the reputation and awareness of Union outside the Berlin city limits. “I think it just brings reputation,” said Ruhnert.
He fended off questions as to whether Union shouldn’t have a more offensive goal than staying up in the coming season. The club is still in the lower regions of the Bundesliga in terms of budget. “Others have to do a lot wrong and we have to do a lot right to play for these places,” said the 50-year-old. In addition, it is not easy to give up and replace top performers again and again. Ruhnert said that Union is now also interesting for more players.
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