Regular employee after loan
Hertha BSC has extended the contract with young professional Marten Winkler (20). At the general meeting on Sunday, goalkeeper Marius Gersbeck (28) also took to the podium to apologize after his conviction for a fight during the training camp.
Winger Winkler, who was most recently loaned out to Waldhof Mannheim, was part of Berlin’s regular staff in the first quarter of the season after he was slightly injured in his first appearance after his return and had to miss a game. The club did not initially disclose how long Winkler will be with the “Old Lady”. Winkler’s extension was announced at the general meeting on Sunday.
“We have a lot of great players. Some you have already seen, others you will see. It’s up to us to show them a common path,” said Hertha’s licensing department manager Andreas “Zecke” Neuendorf during the announcement. Sports director Benjamin Weber tried to classify the disappointing season so far for the ninth-placed Bundesliga relegated team. He explained: “After the international break in September, it felt like a new start for us. Since then you can see the positive development in the results and the way the boys fight against adversity. We are on the right track, but we would do well to take it step by step.”
Gersbeck apologizes to Herthan: “Biggest mistake”
Goalkeeper Gersbeck has apologized to the members of Hertha BSC for his serious misconduct at the second division soccer team’s training camp. The 28-year-old took to the podium in front of over 1,600 Hertha residents on Sunday at the Messe Berlin and gave a three-and-a-half-minute speech about the fight in which he injured his victim’s face with punches and kicks. “On July 15, I made the biggest mistake of my life,” Gersbeck said.
The Hertha members reacted with applause when Gersbeck was announced, who had been sentenced to a fine of 40,000 euros by the Salzburg regional court after admitting guilt and apologizing to the victim. Hertha BSC gave Gersbeck, who was brought in in the summer as a great hope for rebuilding after relegation, a second chance.
“In the future, I will show you the person Marius Gersbeck, who regrets his mistake and stands for the right values and standards. Measure me by my appearance, statements and actions,” demanded Gersbeck, who came onto the stage in a white shirt with a dark sporty jacket. “As you know, my return to the club is subject to certain conditions. Of course I accept that and will fulfill it,” he assured. Gersbeck had left the team hotel without permission on the evening of the fight.
After there were announcements of his departure because not everyone was enthusiastic about Gersbeck’s second chance at Hertha, he tried to get in touch with everyone. “I am very happy that after our discussions many of them remain loyal to our club,” he explained and made another personal offer to talk next Wednesday after training. “I hope to be able to show you then at the latest that there is greater added value in keeping me at the club instead of releasing me.”
According to Gersbeck, he also wants to accompany and support children and young people in the future so that “what I did doesn’t happen to them.”
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