Damien Brunner calmly takes care of Biel’s difficult start: ‘I once played for Lugano’

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There are good phases, “but in between we are always in trouble. “We also have a hard time scoring goals,” said Damien Brunner (37) after Saturday’s 4-2 defeat against Bern. The fifth of the last six games.

But is that why the play-off finalists are panicking? Not at Brunner! “September has just ended and eight games have been played. We have a new coach and a new system. At this point in the season I don’t have the guts to ask such questions,” says the experienced striker with a charming smile, but very decisive.

The search for reasons

However, the Bielers are known for starting the season well in recent years. And maybe later there will be a period of weakness. Seen in this light, the slow start is extraordinary. But not for Brunner himself, he says significantly: “Before my time in Biel I played for Lugano…”

The Zurich resident does not believe that the exciting last season with the very first participation in the play-off final is still in the minds of the players: “No one is interested in the last season anymore. It’s not that.” The fact that as many as 19 player contracts are expiring at the end of the season could have some influence. Brunner said: “It could very well be that this puts pressure on one player or the other “But actually the goal is always to perform well in a contract year like this and win a good contract.”

Will Brunner announce his resignation in February?

But he sees himself as the wrong person to contact because it’s conceivable this is his last season. “We’ll look at that in February,” Brunner said. “I don’t want to study it right now, I just want to enjoy this season and see how my body handles it.” This was also agreed with sports director Martin Steinegger (51).

Be that as it may, there’s a good chance that as an active player, Brunner will no longer experience the referees having perfect video on top-of-the-line screens when reviewing scenes. In January he opened up about the subject in a scintillatingly angry interview on MySports – after Saturday’s match in Bern he was angry again. Because of Bern’s controversial goal to make it 2-0, which could have been preceded by a high stick from Thierry Bader – or which, according to Brunner, had been preceded.

Brunner angrily talks to himself again

“In the end it didn’t decide the match, but it finally gave the referees a big screen on which they can actually see it. I’m sorry, but it’s 2023 and it’s still not possible – that’s ridiculous!” says Brunner, irritated. And continues: “I don’t want to imagine that such a goal would decide a play-off match due to the lack of technical resources.”

Precisely because Damien Brunner always expresses his opinion so sharply, it is hoped that he will realize in February that he must continue his career.

Source : Blick