From BZ/dpa
Hertha BSC got off to a bad start this season as well. However, expectations are so low anyway that there is no talk of a crisis. Coaches and managers agree, that alone is helpful.
Happy despite defeat? It is not without reason that Hertha BSC affords this mood, which is quite unusual for professional football. In the past few months, the Berlin Crisis Club has been hit all the time. Now even slight glimmers of hope like the ultimately unfortunate 0:1 at Borussia Mönchengladbach are enough to keep a good portion of residual optimism. Even if the start of the season in the Bundesliga was again quite meager with only one point from three games.
“Of course, the result is not what we had imagined. But our performance was very, very decent over long stretches,” said coach Sandro Schwarz after the defeat at Borussia Park on Friday evening. It’s perspective that counts for the 43-year-old. He thinks he’s still on the right track with Hertha. “You have to see how the group grows together, how it deals with resistance. That’s why we take a lot of positive things with us, but always with the knowledge that this is the basis for continuing to produce performance,” said Schwarz.
Hertha coach Sandro Schwarz in the game against Borussia Mönchengladbach Photo: dpa
That can possibly go well as long as the new coach does not lose a certain basic skepticism. “We don’t want to sugarcoat anything and remain critical,” added Schwarz, who is in line with managing director Fredi Bobic. Trainers and sports directors on the same wavelength, that can also be very helpful in difficult times.
“This performance today and the performance make me proud,” said Bobic. The 50-year-old is confident that the team will soon find its way to success. “It’s only a matter of time.” Of course, the best possible result will be in the next difficult task next Saturday (3:30 p.m.) against Borussia Dortmund.
The appearance of the almost relegated team was actually unrecognizable compared to last season. “That was definitely another step forward,” said Schwarz after an emotional game in which his team never gave up after being 1-0 down due to a penalty converted by Alassane Plea (34th minute). “We want to see this mentality,” said Bobic.
Fredi Bobic before the Hertha game in Gladbach Photo: City Press
Above all, the attack series and there Dodi Lukebakio and Chidera Ejuke repeatedly presented the Gladbach defense with problems. There’s a different trait in the Berliners since black has been in charge, that’s what hopes are pinned on. Borussia’s coach Daniel Farke was also impressed by the performance of the Berliners. “They have shown that they want to knock the buck over,” said the Gladbach coach.
Hertha BSC
Schwarz will focus on Dortmund in a long week of training, while Bobic will have to focus on his core business. There are still several professionals on the sales list. The necessary proceeds are probably not achieved even after the transfer of Omar Alderete to FC Getafe.
Dedryck Boyata, Krzysztof Piatek and Deyovaisio Zeefuik are still considered potential sales candidates who could go until the September 1 transfer deadline. An amicable solution is also being sought with substitute keeper Rune Jarstein, who is to leave the club after the dispute with goalkeeping coach Andreas Menger.