Baumgart Cautions Against Complacency After Union Berlin Triumph
Berlin, Germany – 1. FC Union Berlin head coach Steffen Baumgart is eager to maintain the positive momentum from last weekend’s 4-0 victory over TSG 1899 Hoffenheim. However, he is wary of getting ahead of himself as his team prepares to face Borussia Mönchengladbach on Saturday.
"We need to be careful," Baumgart warned at a press conference at the Stadion An der Alten Försterei. "Should we talk about taking it game by game or calculating the possibilities?"
Baumgart was asked how significant a step another victory would be in their fight for Bundesliga survival. "It’s nonsense to talk about that beforehand," he asserted.
Ahead of the Gladbach clash, Union Berlin sits 13th in the Bundesliga standings, 10 points clear of the relegation play-off spot. Their opponents, Borussia Mönchengladbach, are eighth, with aspirations of European qualification.
"We want to keep the three points here, and that’s how we intend to play," said Baumgart, who has only been at the club since the start of the year but has already shown signs of stabilizing the team.
"Everyone can understand that you enter the week with a smile after such a result as [the one] against Hoffenheim. I hope that we will once again start next week with a big smile," Baumgart emphasized.
The 53-year-old coach will be able to count on the return of striker Benedict Hollerbach, who was injured in their previous encounter against Hoffenheim. "He is not only in the squad, but if everything goes smoothly and he declares himself fit tomorrow, he will likely be in the starting XI," Baumgart revealed.
Maintaining Focus and Ambition
Despite the recent triumph, Baumgart is determined to keep his team grounded and focused on the task at hand. He recognizes the importance of taking it one game at a time and avoiding complacency.
"We can’t rest on our laurels," Baumgart stressed. "We have to play our football, perform well, and work hard every game. Then we will see where we end up."
The Union Berlin coach acknowledges that their position in the league has improved significantly since his arrival. "We have gained a lot of points and moved up a few positions," Baumgart said. "But we know that we still need to achieve a certain number of points to stay in the league."
Baumgart is confident in his team’s ability to continue their positive run. "We have a good team with a lot of quality," he said. "We have the potential to cause problems for any team in the Bundesliga."
Clash with Borussia Mönchengladbach
Saturday’s encounter against Borussia Mönchengladbach will be a crucial test for Union Berlin. Gladbach is a strong and experienced side aiming for European qualification.
Baumgart expects a tough match but is determined to get a positive result at home. "We have the quality to beat Gladbach," he said. "We will give it our all and try to win the three points."
The Union Berlin coach is well aware of the challenges ahead. "It will be a difficult game, but we are prepared," Baumgart said. "We have a lot of respect for Gladbach, but we also have a lot of confidence in our own abilities."
Baumgart believes that a victory over Mönchengladbach would be a significant step in their quest to secure Bundesliga survival. "It would give us a lot of confidence and help us move closer to our goal," he said.
But for now, Baumgart remains focused on the immediate task at hand. "We are only thinking about the next game," he emphasized. "We want to give our fans something to cheer about and get another three points."
