Hertha BSC: Kevin-Prince Boateng ready to stay – Bobic like Messi

Decided formation with Magath

The first version of the article appeared at 06:38 and was later updated with further statements by Boateng and Magath.

Kevin-Prince Boateng is not yet thinking about retiring after staying up with Hertha BSC. “Sure, I still want to. I’m in a good mood, even if you didn’t always see it, I was back, exactly when it matters, I’ll be back,” said the 35-year-old late on Monday evening after the 2-0 win in the second leg of the relegation game Hamburger SV. “You could write: The Prince is back,” Boateng added.

Boateng was brought back to his hometown Berlin by managing director Fredi Bobic last summer. Due to lack of fitness and injuries, he only got part-time assignments, if at all. In Hamburg he played for almost the entire season and made a very good impression in his longest of 19 season appearances. Boateng’s contract expires at the end of the season.

The former professional of Eintracht Frankfurt, Tottenham Hotspur and FC Barcelona played a very important role in the hierarchy of the team. Coach Felix Magath, who left after the rescue, recently described him as the only real leader. Before the relegation second leg, the coach got Boateng’s advice and involved him in the decision to line up.

Hertha BSC: Boateng praises coach Magath and sports director Bobic

“Huge respect for the coach, what a sensitivity he has. It was clear he’s a special guy, I’m a special guy. These can either clash or we get along better – and we get along better. He gave me a free hand, he asked me who do you see better in which position, we did a great job together, not many coaches do that,” said Boateng.

Rebuilding with Hertha will be a difficult task, says the midfielder. But he would be willing to cooperate. “We will be very insightful. We’ll talk a lot, if I can still have a say, let’s see what happens. We have to learn a lot, we have to calm down. We need to be a family again like we were today. That’s Hertha BSC for Berlin,” said Boateng.

The professional also introduced himself to sports director Bobic, for whom there had recently been a lot of criticism: “The fact that Eintracht just won the Europa League is thanks to the foundation that Bobic laid six years ago,” said the native of Berlin. Spiegel” about Bobic, with whom Boateng won the DFB Cup at Eintracht Frankfurt in 2018. “Bobic is like Lionel Messi among sports managers. You have to give it time,” he said.

The 50-year-old Bobic has been in Berlin since the summer of 2021. In his first season, relegation could only just be avoided. The manager’s personnel decisions also came under criticism. According to Boateng, Hertha is treated in the press as a top club, like Real Madrid or FC Barcelona. “If it doesn’t work after three months, people will ask you to be kicked out.” It’s different in Frankfurt. In his own words, Boateng does not find the vision of Hertha as a “Big City Club” bad, “but there was too much talk and too little done”. Alluding to Lars Windhorst’s investment, he said: “Just because you invest 374 million euros does not mean that it will work.”

Magath: Hertha BSC still needs Kevin-Prince Boateng

The outgoing coach Magath advises Hertha to extend the contract with Boateng: “He is a character that football needs – and above all Hertha BSC. Because otherwise Hertha isn’t so blessed with guys,” said Magath in one Interview of the “Kicker”. “With his personality, Hertha will normally not be able to avoid taking him with them next year. Of course he is a face and symbol of the club. It’s clear that he’s not easy to care for,” he said.

For the 68-year-old Magath, the engagement in Berlin ended when he remained in his class. As a successor, Hertha BSC wants to get the former Mainz coach Sandro Schwarz from Dinamo Moscow.

Blood!
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— Hertha BSC (@HerthaBSC) May 23, 2022

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