Berlin – The former football world champion Karl-Heinz Riedle (57) trusts that 1. FC Union Berlin more surprises in the European Cup.
Karl-Heinz Riedle (57) believes that Union Berlin can win against Ajax Amsterdam on Thursday. (archive image) © Ina Fassbender/dpa
In the intermediate round duel between the Irons in the Europa League and Ajax Amsterdam, “everything is possible,” said the former Bundesliga striker and today’s RTL expert of the German Press Agency.
The team coached by Urs Fischer (56) seems stable and solid to him. Union have already gained good international experience in the past year and are currently playing “phenomenal” in the Bundesliga, stressed Riedle.
Union will compete with the Dutch record champions in the Johan Cruijff Arena on Thursday (6.45 p.m. / RTL +). A week later, the second leg for the round of 16 in the stadium at the Alte Försterei in Köpenick.
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Reaching the knockout stages is the greatest international success for the current second in the Bundesliga table. In 2001, the Berliners were eliminated in the second round of the UEFA Cup. Last season the Conference League ended in the group stage.
According to Riedle, the Union is a team that “is stable in itself” and implements what the coach has “implanted” in it. In addition, the capitals have “quick people up front” and players in midfield who “can not only work, but also play football”.
Ajax Amsterdam is “of course a great team” that has already gained experience in the Champions League. The traditional club had missed the round of 16 in the premier class as third in the group behind SSC Naples and FC Liverpool.
This will certainly not make the game easy for the Berliners, emphasized the 1990 world champion, who played a season for Blau-Weiss 90 in. in 1986/87 Berlin played in the Bundesliga.