Seven days after Hertha BSC officially announced that goalkeeper Marius Gersbeck would be given “a second chance,” the 28-year-old returned to Berlin team training. However, coach Pál Dárdai made it clear that the keeper was under observation.
Marius Gersbeck has returned to Hertha BSC team training. At the start of the international break, the summer newcomer completed sessions with his teammates who remained in Berlin at the second division soccer team’s training ground.
“Today was a first conversation. We also talked to the team again about Marius training again,” explained coach Dárdai regarding Gersbeck’s return, which was not without media controversy, and added a warning: “Marius has to be careful in the future.”
Gersbeck had to stand trial in Austria because he injured a 22-year-old in a nighttime brawl on the sidelines of the Hertha training camp in Zell am See in July. The proceedings ended at the end of September as part of a so-called diversion. Gersbeck admitted his guilt, apologized to the person affected and had to pay 40,000 euros to the state of Austria.
Hertha BSC imposes “heavy fine”
For a long time it was unclear whether the Berliners would order their goalkeeper back to team training, but at the beginning of October the club announced that Gersbeck, who had previously been suspended, would be pardoned. “From now on, however, strict rules of conduct in public and private life will apply to our goalkeeper and he will be severely sanctioned,” the capital city officials announced unequivocally. In addition, Gersbeck was fined “a hefty fine” and the goalkeeper committed himself “to becoming socially active from now on in order to pass on his experiences from this misconduct.”
Words from Dárdai suggest that the new opportunity is still a real one, who did not rule out that Gersbeck could return to goal in the friendly against Tennis Borussia Berlin. “Why not? Tjark [Ernst] is with the national team,” explained the Hungarian.
Speaking of seriousness: The youngster used Gersbeck’s suspension to get number 1 status, and Dárdai left no doubt about that either. “He’s number 1. He has complete trust,” said Dárdai about the 20-year-old Ernst.