Bundesliga conference in the live ticker: Berlin derby at the start
VfL Bochum – FSV Mainz 05
FC Augsburg – SC Freiburg
VfL Wolfsburg – Werder Bremen
Union Berlin – Hertha BSC Berlin
Borussia Mönchengladbach – TSG Hoffenheim
Berlin derby on matchday 1 – Old acquaintances meet
Union Berlin coach Urs Fischer apparently did not need scouting help from his striker Jordan Siebatcheu about Hertha’s new attacker Wilfried Kanga. “I know the player too. I also watch the Swiss league from time to time,” said the 56-year-old Swiss before the Köpenicker derby against Hertha on Saturday (3:30 p.m. / Sky). “He’s a physical player. He knows what he has to do in the penalty area, has good speed and is very dangerous.”
Siebatcheu and Kanga know each other well and are friends. Both stormed together for the Young Boys Bern last season, then switched to Berlin, but in different parts of the city. First the Franco-American Siebatcheu to the Irons, then the Frenchman Kanga to the Old Lady.
Hertha coach Sandro Schwarz also praised the robustness of his new striker. Kanga is also very good at holding the ball and in depth. “He makes a fit impression and already has the rhythm of the game,” said Schwarz.
While the 24-year-old could make his derby debut, Siebatcheu has scored twice for Union – in a friendly against Nottingham Forest and most recently in the cup against Chemnitz. “That goal against Nottingham was really good for him. The goal against Chemnitz was really outstanding,” said Fischer. Nevertheless, the 26-year-old is still in the adjustment process. The connection to his teammates, the anticipation of routes, there is still room for improvement. “Five weeks of preparation is simply not enough.”
Fischer didn’t want to get involved as to which Berlin club got the better striker from Bern, but said: “We got Siebatcheu, so Jordan is the better one for us.”
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Bundesliga conference: Max Kruse between the fronts
Max Kruse from VfL Wolfsburg will initially only sit on the bench in the first Bundesliga game against his former club Werder Bremen on Saturday. “Max first had a calf injury and then got sick. He certainly has some catching up to do. Therefore, it will not start from the beginning, ”said VfL trainer Niko Kovac on Thursday at the press conference for this season start (Saturday, 3.30 p.m. / Sky). Due to a flu infection, Kruse completely missed the DFB Cup game at FC Carl Zeiss Jena (1-0) last weekend.
Bremen admitted on Thursday that they had briefly considered returning the 34-year-old attacker during the summer. Kruse already played for the Bundesliga returnees from 2006 to 2009 and from 2016 to 2019. The background is a clause in his contract with VfL, about which the “Bild” newspaper reported several weeks ago. After that, Kruse was allowed to leave Wolfsburg for a small summer transfer until June 30 because his close confidante Florian Kohfeldt is no longer a coach.
“Of course we also knew about this clause that Max has,” said the head of professional football and scouting, Clemens Fritz. “We exchanged ideas internally, it was discussed thoroughly” – and in the end rejected without concrete negotiations. “It’s not like he could move on a free transfer. The salary and the management structure must also be taken into account,” said Fritz.