Max Kruse relentlessly pronounced the disappointing football truth for Union Berlin's international dreams.

“Overall, we deserved to be eliminated from the Conference League.

Of course we would have liked to have won, and would also have liked to have progressed.

But if you look at all six games, two wins are simply not enough, ”said the iron star after the 1-1 draw against Slavia Prague on Thursday evening at the end of the group stage in the new European Cup.

Urs Fischer also didn't want to gloss over anything after the final moment of frustration in the Olympic Stadium. "I do believe that we have paid the hardship in this campaign," said the iron coach. “These are also experiences that you have to take with you,” said the Swiss. “Just the qualification was extraordinary, who gave us credit for that?” Asked the 55-year-old. Third place behind Feyenoord Rotterdam and Slavia Prague was not enough for international wintering.

As amazing as the renewed storm into the top third of the Bundesliga is current, the lack of cleverness of the Berliners in international business was just as blatant, not just in the last failed attempt in the draw against the Czech champions. The yellow-red card for Paul Jaeckel in the first leg in Prague (1: 3), the mistake of goalkeeper Andreas Luthe against group winners Rotterdam (1: 2) and now the blatant bad pass from Timo Baumgartl, Ivan Schranz (50th) to the opening goal invited for Slavia. Union made too many blunders to earn a place in the difficult Group E in the knock-out playoffs.

"It's a bit dragging on in the Conference League, we have to turn that off," demanded captain Christopher Trimmel. "We had too few playful solutions," said goal scorer Kruse (64th) after the end of an overall unfortunate European campaign and possibly his own last European Cup game.

The Köpenickers don't have time to complain.

On Sunday it goes to SpVgg Greuther Fürth.

Union is the logical favorite in the bottom league without a win.

Reason enough for Fischer to quickly slip back into his parade role as an eternal warning.

“There are no easy tasks in the Bundesliga.

You have to work out every point, ”said the Swiss.

Fischer didn't want to know anything about a return to Europe either: “Of course, you feel like you want more.

But we're sticking to our path and that means first and foremost to achieve the goal of relegation. "