Steffen Baumgart calls for calm after Union Berlin thrashing: “No point in running around like Rumpelstiltskin” | OneFootball

Saturday night’s 6-0 Bundesliga defeat to Borussia Dortmund leaves Steffen Baumgart’s Union Berlin contemplating their second straight league defeat. In general, matters in Köpenick have not gone well since Baumgart was appointed at the turn of the calendar year. In eight league fixtures under Baumgart’s tenure, the team have collected only two wins and one draw. Seven points from a possible 24 doesn’t constitute a great record.

Union striker Benedict Hollerbach’s prophetic words after a big win against Hoffenheim two weeks ago have sadly come truly. Union looked languid against Borussia Mönchengladbach last week. In Saturday’s Topspiel, they completely fell apart against BVB at the Signal Iduna Park.

While BVB head coach Niko Kovac was in the mood to accord Union some respect for the manner in which they played at the beginning of both halves, Baumgart certainly wasn’t. The 53-year-old launched into a diatribe at his post-match press conference.

“The result condemns us,” Baumgart said. “That’s our [Union Berlin’s] highest ever defeat in the Bundesliga [over the course of over five and a half years]. What happened in the last 15 minutes [in which Dortmund scored four goals] is inexplicable.

“I have to process what happened with those last three goals,” Baumgart continued. “No fight in the duels. The team hasn’t in them. Prior to today, they didn’t do everything wrong.

“I’m not the kind of person to dwell on matters or do crazy things.” Baumgart concluded. “I’d rather calm matters down and analyse. There’s no point in running around [the locker room] like Rumpelstiltskin.“

GGFN | Peter Weis