After Two Defeats, Zietz Asks Patience for Union Women’s Team

Union Berlin’s women’s team needs patience after two defeats at the start of the Bundesliga season, managing director Jennifer Zietz said before Monday’s match against Eintracht Frankfurt.

The team lost 4-1 at home to Bayern Munich and 1-0 at Freiburg. Zietz said the performances under new coach Marie-Louise Eta needed to be judged differently. Union had played very well against Bayern despite the scoreline, she said, but the team’s performance in Freiburg was especially disappointing late in the match.

“The team still has to grow together. The new training content and the coaching staff’s expectations are a challenge for many of the players,” Zietz said.

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The team still has to grow together. The new training content and the coaching staff’s expectations are a challenge for many of the players.

Union strengthened its squad near the end of the transfer window with 21-year-old fullback Judit Pujols from VfL Wolfsburg and 28-year-old midfielder Lina Hausicke from Werder Bremen. Hausicke, Werder’s longtime captain, is expected to bring leadership. “Her leadership qualities make her a perfect fit for us,” Zietz said.

The club’s financial and structural conditions are strong, but Union also missed out on some targets. Zietz said some players wanted to compete in the Champions League, where Union is not yet involved. She also said the approaching World Cup could make players worry that missing Champions League football would hurt their national-team chances. Union president Dirk Zingler has warned that the rapid growth of women’s football and increased investment by top clubs could leave too few elite players on the market, pushing transfer fees and salaries higher.

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Her leadership qualities make her a perfect fit for us.