After “turbulent days” rest needed
Three lost games in one week, the departure of the sporting director and the end of the winter transfer period have been a big part of Hertha BSC’s preparations for the next game in the Bundesliga. “Of course, those were turbulent days,” said coach Sandro Schwarz at a press conference on Thursday, “we must now radiate calm again for a long period of time and focus on Saturday.” After three defeats after the winter break, the Berliners go into the table penultimate Game at Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday (3.30 p.m. / Sky).
“We got over the first two defeats very well, but made one or the other mistake too many,” said the 44-year-old, under whom the “Old Lady” has scored an average of 0.74 points in 19 games so far, about the 1 :3 in Bochum and the harsh 0:5 against Wolfsburg. Schwarz made the 0-2 in the local derby against Union Berlin and the subsequent separation from Fredi Bobic more difficult. “What happened on Saturday, you have to let it sink in first.”
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The coach also commented on the deadline day when Tolga Cigerci found his way back to Hertha BSC after seven years. The 30-year-old defensive midfielder came from Ankaragücü and signed until 2024. “Tolga showed right away in the first training session that he has a good attitude. He is a strong runner and has good tactics and always wants to have the ball. In addition, he is in the game and training rhythm, but of course not optimal in our tactical processes. The next training sessions will show whether he will be an option for the weekend,” said Schwarz.
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According to the new sports director Benjamin Weber, who only took up his post on Sunday and who therefore only had a short period of time left for reinforcements until Tuesday, Cigerci fits “perfectly” into the requirements profile of the capital city club: “During this transfer period, it was always about convincing us what is economically feasible and who can help directly.”
Before Cigerci, whose commitment came as a surprise on the last day of the change window, numerous other candidates were traded with the Berliners. These include Kerem Demirbay (Bayer Leverkusen), Jannik Vestergaard (Leicester City), Maximilian Philipp (decided to go on loan to Werder Bremen), Selim Amallah (moved to Real Valladolid), Gauthier Hein (AJ Auxerre), Théo Bongonda (FC Cádiz) and Marvin Friedrich (Borussia Mönchengladbach), but in the end there was only one new player – and that for defensive midfield. There is more of a need in central defense and – after the injury to left winger Chidera Ejuke – on the offensive wings.
“One or the other didn’t work out. Nevertheless, one has to say that we didn’t want to do one or the other from our side either,” Schwarz explained to the “kicker”. The head coach also has a new centre-forward at his disposal, whose move from FC Augsburg was brought forward when Davie Selke left for 1. FC Köln.
Benjamin #Weaver: During this transfer period, it was always about being convinced of what is economically feasible and who can help directly. Tolga fits perfectly!#SGEBSC #HaHoHe pic.twitter.com/iSWxjBsd17
— Hertha BSC (@HerthaBSC) February 2, 2023
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