Union bolster defense
The Philadelphia Union have a new arrival from Germany. That’s cause for celebration for the front office, even if it’s not the high-profile capture that has enthralled Union Twitter for the last day.
The Union completed the signing of left back Kai Wagner Wednesday, while sporting director Ernst Tanner also confirmed reports that the club is in advanced discussions with Mexican international Marco Fabian.
German defender Wagner, 21, joins from Wurzburger Kickers in the 3.Liga, the German third tier. He played in 44 matches the last season and a half with Wurzburger after a year with Schalke’s B team. The Union paid an undisclosed transfer fee to acquire him.
The six-footer fills the Union’s need for depth at left back, where he is likely to vie with Homegrown Matt Real and veteran Fabinho for playing time.
“He’s very open-minded and he’s not that sort of player who is just watching the big leagues in Europe and going through that normal process maybe in the second league next season and then maybe the first league out of the second league,” Tanner said on a conference call. “He’s chosen this way because he’s convinced and because MLS gets a better frame in Europe time by time.”
Wagner will be surrounded by countrymen in Chester, including Tanner and goalkeeping coach Oka Nikolov.
“I was really happy to hear that Philadelphia Union want to have me,” Wagner said. “It’s a new project for me and a new big step to play in the MLS and for a team like the Philadelphia Union. I didn’t have to think so long about it. When my agent told me that they want me, I said to him, I will go to the U.S., I will go to Philadelphia and now I’m here. I’m happy about it and I can’t wait to start the season.”
Tanner said that the Union competed with another MLS club for Wagner’s services. He also threw cold water on the notion that Wagner is making the jump from a decisively inferior league.
“The third league in Germany is a professional league,” Tanner said. “Don’t underestimate the level there. It is very physical. I would say in terms of physicality it is comparable to MLS. But it is for sure a higher level than USL. If a young player is outstanding there, he can compete on a higher level.”
Outside back role is an important cog in Tanner’s new tactical system. In its two preseason games, the Union have utilized a 4-4-2 diamond formation or something close, a narrower lineup designed to gum up the middle of the field and apply high pressure centrally. Manager Jim Curtin said that means wing players like David Accam and Fafa Picault will operate more from the middle of the pitch, shifting the responsibility to cover the flanks to outside backs.
Wagner’s work rate, youth and technical ability will be prized in this new scheme.
“Kai’s a very physical player, very aggressive, can really cover a lot of ground and he’s quite speedy,” Tanner said. “In addition, he’s (really) technical with his left foot and is also good in set pieces. That’s what I saw formerly from him playing on the youth side, but that is a strength he can build on. He’s putting work in both ways. Even crossing, he can cross the ball out of a speedy run and he’s improved really well in defending one-v-one, so I think we get a really good player in terms of his age.”
“He’s integrated quickly to the group,” Curtin said. “He speaks very good English so communication is a non-issue. He gives us a left-sided player who can be responsible offensively for the entire left side and responsible defensively for the entire left side. We’ll have a healthy competition there.”
The higher profile arrival from Germany isn’t yet forthcoming, though Tanner confirmed a report by ESPN’s Taylor Twellman that the Union are engaged in negotiations to acquire Mexican midfielder Fabian.
“It’s no secret. I can’t speak on the player that you’re talking about. He’s a Frankfurt player so I won’t speak on Marco,” Curtin said. “I can speak on Taylor Twellman. He is good at his job and he’s kind of the Adam Schefter of our league, so I’ll leave it at that.”
Fabian, 29, made a name in eight successful years at Chivas Guadalajara. He transferred to Eintracht Frankfurt in 2016 and excelled in his first season with seven goals and four assists in 24 matches. But a career-threatening back injury has limited him to just eight games in the last season and a half.
Fabian has been capped 42 times but the Mexican national team, scoring nine goals. He helped the Mexican Olympic team win gold at the London Games in 2012 and was part of the delegations to the 2014 and 2018 World Cups. A versatile attacker, he can operate centrally or on either wing, the kind of flexibility that suits the Union’s projected tactical fluctuations.