From BZ/dpa
Jessic Ngankam is still with the U21 at the European Championship. His club coach Pal Dardai wants to see the striker in Berlin soon. A particularly intensive pre-season preparation awaits the 22-year-old.
Of course, Pal Dardai wishes his son Marton Dardai and Hertha’s young striker Jessic Ngankam every success in the U21 European Championship. The threatening end of the German soccer juniors after the preliminary round and an associated earlier return to Berlin would have a positive side effect, especially for Ngankam. “Jessic would do well to prepare hard,” said Hertha head coach Dardai at the start of training for the Bundesliga relegated team.
Hertha’s Jessic Ngankam in a duel with Czech Robin Hranac. At the U21 European Championship, Germany is threatened with an early end Photo: Sebastian Kahnert/dpa
In the past two seasons, Ngankam had not been able to fully complete the summer preparation as a loan player at SpVgg Greuther Fürth and last year at Hertha BSC after a cruciate ligament tear and renewed knee problems. This season, the striker was used more frequently in the final sprint with the Berliners and is now considered an important part of a rebuild in the 2nd division.
Ngankam “mature enough to do a really tough training camp
“At his age, he’s mature enough to do a really tough training camp. His body needs it. Otherwise his body doesn’t function. He can do a lot more. He’s a real horse. He’s got a body, he’s got speed,” Dardai said of the 22-year-old.
The German U21 threatens to lose the European Championship in Georgia on Wednesday. Only if they win the last group game against England and Israel beat the Czech Republic at the same time does the DFB selection with the two Hertha professionals Ngankam and Marton Dardai still have a chance of reaching the quarter-finals.
“Quickly after the European Championships” Ngankam should start training, said Dardai. “I hope they get through, but he should be here and run, run, run,” said the 47-year-old. In the meantime, however, it is still unclear whether Ngankam will stay with Hertha at all.
Eintracht Frankfurt is said to be interested in a commitment. The Berliners need transfer proceeds. “I can’t talk into an offer, whoever takes it,” said Dardai. But: “We need a good Jessic, but he has to work hard for that.”