He should save Hertha: Felix Magath (68). On Tuesday morning, the new coach was on the Schenckendorffplatz for the first time, preparing the team, which is in 17th relegation zone, for the home game against Hoffenheim (Saturday, March 19, 3:30 p.m.).
The BG log of the first Magath training session.
8.30 a.m.: a first get-to-know-you breakfast together in the Hertha rooms on the Olympic site. On Monday, when Magath presented himself to the press with sporting director Fredi Bobic (50), the team was still free.
The first practice session was scheduled for 10 a.m. The new assistant coach, Scot Mark Fotheringham (38), and striker coach Vedad Ibisevic (37) were already preparing the training between 9 and 9.30 a.m., setting up poles and training dummies.
But: It was only at 10.26 a.m. that the whole team came to the training ground after sweating in the dressing room. It was only at 10:30 a.m. that Magath – alone – came to the lawn, he seemed relaxed and allowed fans to take snapshots of him.
After warming up, the two groups of eleven continued with passing exercises. An 11-on-11 game ensued, with a ‘free’ player reinforcing the team in possession.
Which was immediately noticeable
The Scotsman Fotheringham led the training. He gave the instructions, yelled the commands (“Don’t use the handbrake”) and raced across the square. When the pros were supposed to come from the side court to the main square after warming up, the CO clapped his hands and the players immediately started running. With this gripping nature, Fotheringham was very reminiscent of ex-Hertha coach Pal Dardai (will be 46 on Wednesday), who was similarly committed to the practice sessions.
And Magath stays in the background himself. From the center circle, Meister-Trainer watched what was happening without interfering.
What else struck: Fotheringham is good at German. And he addressed some professionals directly by their nicknames: for example “Santi” (Santiago Ascacibar/25) or “Vladi” (Vladimir Darida/31).
To the staff
Since co-captain Niklas Stark (26) was completely absent due to muscular problems and Stevan Jovetic (32) could only train individually, Marten Winkler (19/hanging forward) and Christalino Atemona (19/central defender) from the U23s (Regionalliga Northeast) filled the rows.
Already at 11.21 a.m. Kevin-Prince Boateng (35), who was completely missing in the 0: 2 in Gladbach, ended the training as planned. But before the midfielder left the pitch, he chatted with Magath for a few minutes. Boateng only disappeared into the cabin at 11:28 a.m.
He was no longer there for the final game that followed. At 11:54 a.m. the crew started to leave the port. Magath went into the dressing room at 12 o’clock sharp – on the way there he was briefly involved in a chat with youth leader Pablo Thiam (48), whom he knows from his time in Stuttgart and Wolfsburg.
By the way: no medicine balls were spotted, but one was on the side court where athletics trainer Hendrik Vieth was training with winter newcomer Kelian Nsona (19). The Frenchman is in rehabilitation training after a cruciate ligament tear.