Fischer announces minimal rotations and confirms decision on goalkeeper ahead of Leipzig re-match
As if dropping a DFB-Pokal semi-final in heartbreaking fashion at the Red Bull Arena wasn't emotionally exhausting enough, Urs Fischer and Union Berlin must travel back to Leipzig for a must-win match in their quest to qualify for European football next season.
The Union trainer divulged that he only planned "minimal rotations" at his Friday presser. Without revealing which goalkeeper he had chosen to start between the sticks for the duration of the campaign, the 56-year-old noted that "a decision has been made."
After Emil Forsberg's late goal ended Union Berlin's dream of another match at the Olympiastadion on Wednesday, FCU head-coach Urs Fischer revealed that he and his team felt absolutely gutted. The Swiss gaffer spoke on the pain of facing some 8,000 traveling supporters after the full-time whistle.
The Union trainer divulged that he only planned "minimal rotations" at his Friday presser. Without revealing which goalkeeper he had chosen to start between the sticks for the duration of the campaign, the 56-year-old noted that "a decision has been made."
"I think we'll be taking that disappointment with us," Fischer conceded at his Friday presser, "But you have to get the defeat out of your head. It's not easy."
"It's all about how you deal with it," Fischer continued, "You can't let it affect your performance. You have to take the positives with you first and foremost."
Fischer hinted that he didn't plan any major changes to his usual approach to a match. Announcing "minimal rotations", it stands to reason that the 56-year-old merely plans to rotate wingbacks Niko Gießelmann and Julian Ryerson back in place of Christopher Trimmel and Bastian Oczipka.
Timo Baumgartl's league suspension will very likely be handled by inserting Dominique Heintz back into the lineup. For the first time in several weeks, Fischer could confirm that his normal first choice keeper Andreas Luthe would be fit enough to again feature in the squad.
Regarding the goalkeeping situation, it remains likely that back-up Frederick Rønnow has cemented his status as the new #1 for the duration of the season. Luthe had been error-prone in the weeks prior to succumbing to musclar issues. Luthe's last start--against Bayern München in round 27--saw him make several goal-tending errors.
Fischer did not care to discuss the Luthe-Rønnow debate, but did say that a decision had been made and both net-minder's had received a courtesy of a conversation. The Union trainer mainly discussed the match ahead. According to the head-coach, another performance like that on Wednesday would likely suffice.
"We have to step it up a bit," he concluded, "We lay prone on the floor. Now we have to get up again.