Bobic certainly does not believe that Gegenbauer is still Hertha boss beyond the meeting, despite all denials about an allegedly fixed resignation on Tuesday. The time of the patron who brought Bobic back to Berlin has expired at Hertha. As for CFO Ingo Schiller, who only stays until October.
Until there is a new president, Bobic, as the only remaining decision-maker, has to set the course. “It’s important that people know what’s important. We have to remain able to act, we need continuity,” warned the manager. No one needs populism, the club’s duty of care is the order of the day, otherwise the considerable increase in performance in the 2-0 win in Hamburg, which made the rescue possible, would be in vain.
Coach should come quickly
Bobic has prepared. He quickly wants to present a new trainer for Magath, who said goodbye to his next rescue coup and started doing gardening with an axe. “I’m very, very far along in the talks. It will certainly be the case that we can present a new coach in the next few days,” said Bobic. Former Mainz coach Sandro Schwarz, who currently works at Dynamo Moscow, is the favourite.
Bobic expects a more attractive style of play from the new coach. “It’s clear what he has to bring with him. Personality and fire for Hertha,” said the managing director. “I want to see aggressive football, forwards, not backwards. Our football was characterized by passivity,” said the 50-year-old.
As a grumbler, Bobic had already attracted attention on the party night in Hamburg. “Terrible music,” he ground out between his teeth as he came out of the dressing room. And anyway, what is there to celebrate? Hertha BSC hadn’t won a title or a trophy, but only survived the relegation with great difficulty.
Boateng wants to continue
While Magath says goodbye to the Bundesliga stage as the big winner with a lavish fee and the good feeling of remaining an expert in rescue operations until the next mission, wherever he goes, the real work begins for 50-year-old Bobic in Berlin. Hertha has to get into calm waters.
“It takes too long when we talk about all the things we did wrong,” said veteran Boateng, who would like to play for Hertha for another year after the holiday. With his appearance as a quasi-assistant coach, suitable for creating a legend, who allegedly revealed the winning line-up to Magath, he staged himself well. Bobic smiled and put it into perspective: “Disempower Felix Magath? I can’t imagine that.”
In fundamental matters, the recently tight-lipped manager Bobic did not want to be infected by the sudden Berlin euphoria. Publicly puffed cigars, as was the case with ex-coach Pal Dardai at the last relegation party a year ago, did not exist this time. Bobic must calculate exactly in the coming weeks. “It’s not about saving dead, that’s not in my interest,” he said. Nevertheless, a transfer surplus is needed. Complicated times remain for Bobic and Hertha.