Bjelica endorses Vogt as new defensive captain: "His leadership qualities will help us."
Speaking at his Sunday press conference, 1. FC Union trainer Nenad Bjelica strongly suggested that he would be relying on new acquisition Kevin Vogt to anchor his defense corps.
The player himself declared himself ecstatic to be part of the "Union adventure" in the German capital and noted that joining the Köpenick side genuinely appealed to him.
Just two days after his arrival from TSG 1899 Hoffenheim, veteran German defender Kevin Vogt was immediately inserted into 1. FC Union Berlin trainer Nenad Bjelica's starting XI. Of some significance, Vogt took over Robin Knoche's usual place in the center of the back-three. Knoche slid over to the right. Bjelica's Eisernen were able to contain a superior Freiburg side in a carbon-copy of previous head-coach Urs Fischer's 3-5-2 system.
The player himself declared himself ecstatic to be part of the "Union adventure" in the German capital and noted that joining the Köpenick side genuinely appealed to him.
Union's new trainer made clear at his Sunday press conference that he would be relying upon Vogt to help stabilize his defense and pull the FCU above the relegation fray. The 32-year-old's place as the centralized captain of the defense corps appears set for now after Bjelica credited the rugged journeyman for helping Union keep their first clean sheet away from home this season.
"I'm very happy that Kevin is with us now," Bjelica said, "He played a solid game and directed the defense. His leadership qualities will help us a great deal in this area [at the back]."
Vogt himself has explained his move from a European contender to a relegation candidate as be driven by the "draw to the adventure of Berlin". In his own post-match comments yesterday, Vogt called Berlin a "great city" and praised the atmosphere at the Stadion An der Alten Försterei.