Pros & Cons – Is coach Nenad Bjelica still acceptable for Union Berlin?
Thu 01/25/24 | 12:56 p.m. | By Till Oppermann & Patrick Richter
Image: imago / Sven Simon
Union coach Nenad Bjelica caused a scandal with his violence against Leroy Sané in the Bundesliga game in Munich on Wednesday. Till Oppermann and Patrick Richter comment on why Bjelica is still acceptable for Union Berlin – or not.
That’s why Bjelica has to stay
Value is greater than harm
Nenad Bjelica’s value for 1. FC Union is greater than the damage the coach caused with his violence against Leroy Sané – he grabbed the man’s face twice on the edge of a heated game. In his short tenure, Bjelica gave 1. FC Union exactly what the club urgently needed. With him, the team scored seven of their 14 Bundesliga points. Bjelica has stopped the historic winless streak.
The way his team plays is at least as important: the team is finally performing the way Union has long been known – well organized, physical and self-confident. Despite Bayern’s superiority on the ball and the deficit immediately after the break, the Iron Men stayed in the game until the end. That would have been unthinkable in November.
Regain credibility
Of course, Bjelica’s assault against Leroy Sané was a stupid move. It costs the coach a few games on the sidelines and the club public reputation. Another question is much more important: what is Bjelica’s reputation among his players?
In addition to the suspension by the sports court, which is still to be negotiated, he should consider how he will punish himself (Update: The DFB has now announced a three-game ban. Red.). For example, with a hefty payment to the team treasury. Bjelica has to show the team: ‘Look: what applies to you also applies to me.’ His own lack of discipline would otherwise make him untrustworthy if he continues to demand discipline from his players.
“This cannot be tolerated, I will apologize to my team,” said the coach that evening, and it is precisely in this apology that there is an opportunity for everyone at Union. Mistakes make you approachable. And closeness should not be underestimated in the relegation battle.
That’s why Bjelica has to go
Such violence cannot be tolerated
Hitting, grabbing the face or giving a “wad” – whatever you want to call it, what Nenad Bjelica did against Leroy Sané: None of these linguistic variations exonerates the coach. He betrayed what he stood for. At the inaugural press conference in November, the Croatian made it clear what was important to him: discipline. Bjelica repeatedly demanded this from his players. In the 74th minute of the catch-up game in Munich, Bjelica lost his credibility.
How are the players supposed to follow a coach who demands iron discipline but doesn’t have his emotions under control? And didn’t even really apologize for it. Even if the action were still tolerable, the reaction to it is not. An apology was only given to his team, but not to Sané. Remorse for his actions? None. The Bayern star finally provoked him. A distortion of the role of perpetrator and victim, wild swearing from the stands and little insight in the interviews after the game – that is not only unworthy of a Bundesliga coach, but also of a club like Union Berlin.
Bjelica cannot be controlled
Added to this are the sporting effects. The DFB specifies a penalty of up to six months for an assault. A club that is so deep in the relegation battle cannot and must not afford a coach who – due to such misconduct – is missing on crucial match days.
Everyone can probably agree on one thing: That wouldn’t have happened to ex-Union coach Urs Fischer. He knew: Nobody is above the club. A motto that is lived at Union Berlin like at few other clubs. At the aforementioned inaugural PK, Bjelica described himself as a “soldier of the club”. Now he has proven that he does not or cannot respect this motto.
With this behavior he has clearly shown that he is no longer acceptable for Union Berlin – personally and sportingly.
Broadcast: DER DAY, January 25, 2024, 6 p.m
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Contribution by Till Oppermann & Patrick Richter