Union's Marie-Louise Eta focused on results in Bundesliga despite public attention

[p]Eta was appointed interim head coach on Saturday ‌for the remainder of the season following the dismissal of ‌Steffen Baumgart with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/union-berlin/pzHW4oaE/"]Union[/a] in 11th place.[/p][p]She will oversee the men’s first team ‌through the end of the campaign before moving to the club’s ‌women’s side.[/p][p][b]"I totally understand that in public there is this issue (of the first woman as a Bundesliga coach)," [/b]she told a press conference [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/union-berlin-pzHW4oaE/wolfsburg-nwkTahLL/?mid=Mwiklgdn"]ahead of her first ‌game on Saturday[/a] at home to strugglers [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/wolfsburg/nwkTahLL/"]VfL ⁠Wolfsburg[/a].[/p][p][b]"I obviously know the issue ‌and it was never about that. It's always about football, about working with people ... ​and about being successful.[/b][/p][p][b]"I have the trust of the club and I am happy about it. The most important thing ​now is to prepare for the weekend against Wolfsburg,"[/b] Eta said.[/p][image alt="Union's upcoming fixtures" id="34fc24b5-d17d-4691-8901-4b654623739d" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="6ed5d3d8-c272-426b-955b-04cc461f435e" original-width="1200" original-height="1200" /][p]Asked if she had any hesitation when getting the job offer last week, ⁠Eta added: [b]"There was nothing ​to consider. I was at home on Saturday so I was surprised initially (to get the call) but then I was happy for this trust, and then things happened quickly."[/b][/p][p]Eta said she was by no means an exception ‌in football with women taking over more and more key positions in many clubs around the world.[/p][p][b]"There are female coaches out there before me. In many other countries as well,"[/b] Eta said. [b]"I understand the issue and the interest in it but it would be nice if this issue did not exist and it was only about success on the pitch."[/b][/p][p]Eta has been coaching Union's Under-19 team.[/p][p]She became the first female assistant coach in the German top flight with Union in 2023 ‌but her appointment this time has also triggered some derogatory social media ​comments, which have been condemned by the club.[/p][p][b]"This (social media comments) ‌does not concern me because it says more about those posting these things than about me or other people they are talking about,"[/b] she said.[/p][p][b]"That my appointment became so big may have surprised us a bit because for us it was not really. I ⁠hope in the next few ⁠years this will be less ‌and less and people will focus on football."[/b][/p]