By Paul Gorgas
This transfer creates frustration among some Hertha fans! With Toni Leistner (32), the Berliners signed an experienced central defender for the upcoming second division season on Friday.
On Monday rose Leistner into training, graduated together with the candidates Jessic Ngankam (22), Lucas Tousart (26) and Krzysztof Piatek (28) as well as access Jeremy Dudziak (27) run a few laps across Schenckendorffplatz.
The poster against Hertha’s newcomer: “Leistner, piss off our club” Photo: private
But the displeasure of some Hertha supporters about the newcomer does not seem to have abated so far. A photo of an abusive poster against Leistner, which was apparently attached to the entrance to the training ground on Hanns-Braun-Strasse, has been circulating on social media since Monday afternoon.
Toni Leistner played for Union until 2018 and was even captain there Photo: ped
The banner reads “Leistner, piss off our club”. The poster is signed, among other things, with the abbreviation “HM03”, which stands for “Hauptstadtmafia 03″ – one of the largest ultra groups in the east curve”. This suggests that part of the active fan scene could have been involved in the action.
What is behind the frustration of some fans?
Presumably Leistner’s Union past! The defender, who was last active at St. Truiden in Belgium, played for Köpenicker from 2014 to 2018. The choice of color suggests that this is exactly what the posters are aiming for: “Leistner” is written in Union red, “our” in Hertha blue.
Hertha sports director Benjamin Weber with newcomer Toni Leistner, who will receive the number 37 jersey
Photo: Jan-Philipp Burmann/City-Press GmbH
Other Hertha fans condemned the banner campaign on social networks, instead calling for Leistner to be welcomed to his new club. Tenor: Every new Hertha player deserves a chance.
One thing is clear: Leistner recently promised the Hertha fans that he would be there in the blue and white jersey: “Anyone who knows me knows that I always give 100 percent on the pitch. My aspiration is to lead the way, to be loud and give commands.”
And Leistner also ticked off his time at Union in an interview: “That’s in the past, the here and now counts. I want to convince the skeptics with performance – and preferably right away in the first games.”
The first opportunity could already be at the start of the season in Düsseldorf on July 29th!