By Bjorn Trautwein
Mike Klatt (60) is tough. He has boxed all his life and has been a fan of Hertha BSC for five decades.
“As a teenager I trained in the Olympic Park and was always allowed to go to home games for free afterwards. I’ve been coming here ever since.”
The Charlottenburger now lives in Switzerland. Because of his other love, a woman. Nevertheless, he comes to almost every game in the Olympic Stadium. All the way from St. Gallen to Westend. Because he kept his season ticket.
3:15 p.m.: Mike comes to his block P.4, row 29. First sit down. “We’ll win today, but the others won’t play along. My hope of staying up is 10 percent.”
Mike touches his head. Lukébakio missed another chance. He should have done that Photo: Björn Trautwein
3:31 p.m .: Kick-off. Photos with cell phone. “There’s a bit of melancholy, it’s tough.” Schalke starts shooting straight away, but the 1-0 win doesn’t appear in Berlin.
3:35 p.m.: Mike sips the second beer. 4.90 euros per cup, pretty steep.
3.48 p.m .: First corner Hertha. “Unfortunately no chance yet, but it will be…”
4:01 p.m .: Brilliant parade from the Hertha keeper. “Great hold,” Mike clenches his fists. The compensation falls to Schalke. “I don’t care, we have to concentrate on our game.”
Mike Klatt shows his season ticket. He has been running to Hertha for five decades, has seen many victories and even more defeats Photo: Björn Trautwein
4.10 p.m .: Chance Lukébakio from half right. Riemann holds. “Nooooo! He has to do that.”
4:13 p.m.: Mike cheers on everyone around him. “Herta! Hertha, Hertha!”
4:18 p.m.: 0-0. “This is pure relegation battle. Who am I going to blame? They want to fight but lack structure. But everything is still in there.”
Break. The tension drops briefly. Mike stands up, turns around. Looking up into the blue and white sky…
4:36 p.m .: Second half. How long is the step to staying up?
4:38 p.m .: Jovetic header just over the bar. “Damn it, why doesn’t he go in.” Mike buries his head in his forearm. Then another sip of beer.
Hand, referee, that was hand.” Mike demands a penalty. Vain! The referee only gives a corner Photo: Björn Trautwein
4.43 p.m .: “Ha Ho He!” Mike joins in the chants of the east curve.
4.45 p.m .: Bochum’s forester fouls Boateng. Mike jumps up. “You bum!” The free kick fizzles out. Mike’s head lands in his arm again.
4:55 p.m .: This is salvation. Tousart scores the goal. Mike cheers with his buddies. Pack formation in row 19. “Jaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!” “Not necessarily deserved, but simply beautiful. That gives us hope.”
The stadium is raging. Mike cheers with his buddies. Tousart made it 1-0. Rescue still seems possible Photo: Björn Trautwein
5:17 p.m .: Bochum hits the Hertha post. Mike writhes. “Madness, my nerves.”
5:21 p.m .: Now Hertha hits the post “Nooooo”, Mike screams.
5:22 p.m .: The referee shows five minutes of stoppage time.
5:24 p.m.: The seconds are glued to the clock. Mike keeps yelling, “Whistle. Referee, blow the whistle.”
5.25 p.m .: Bochum hits the heart of Hertha. Compensation. Mike puts his hands in front of his face. Empty.
5:27 p.m.: THE GAME IS OVER. Hertha is relegated. Mike has tears in his eyes. “It’s so brutal. But this is Hertha. I don’t even know what else to say. But they didn’t lose it today. Even if it hurts especially now.”
The descent. Mike has tears in his eyes. He remains a Hertha player in the 2nd division – unlike many players who have screwed up the season Photo: Björn Trautwein
Mike slowly walks to the exit of the block. He turns around again, looks at the field: “We stagger, but we get up again.”
That’s the boxer speaking. Get back up if you please!