Acclimatization period for Union Berlin's new arrivals

Union Berlin's latest additions Andrej Ilic and Rober Skov still need some time to settle in with the Iron. "Andrej joined relatively late on deadline day. So of course he needs a bit of time to arrive here, for us to integrate him, for him to be set up in such a way that he knows what we want from him," said assistant coach Babak Keyhanfar at the press conference ahead of the Bundesliga match in Leipzig on Saturday (3.30pm/Sky).

The 24-year-old Serbian, who came to Berlin from OSC Lille (France) at the end of August, has already shown his qualities in training. "He has his strengths in the box and is very strong with his head. He's someone with a lot of goals," Keyhanfar said of the striker. Union struggled in attack last season and also in the first games of the new season.

Skov not yet a candidate for the starting eleven

The ex-Hoffenheim man Skov, who had been without a contract since the summer, only arrived in Berlin last week. Keyhanfar particularly praised the Dane's attacking skills as a left or right-sided player.

However, Skov still needs a bit of work to be ready for the starting eleven. "Robert was very hard-working individually," said the 39-year-old. "But of course you can't replace team training." The assistant coach is certain that it won't take until the end of the year for Ilic and Skov to settle in.

In general, the transition to new coach Bo Svensson's system is still a process. "The team felt the same way as we did in the coaching team, that not everything is working yet," said Keyhanfar. During the international break, however, they were able to work on the defensive mechanisms in particular.