As if a 1:4 derby swatter wasn’t enough humiliation… After the home defeat against city rivals Union Berlin, the Hertha players were asked by their own fans to put down their jerseys in the curve. Tenor from the block: You are not worthy of wearing this shirt.
Born in Berlin Maximilian Mittelstadt to BZ: “I don’t know exactly what’s behind it, but I wanted to avoid a conflict. The fans have been demanding that we put the shirts down there.”
And to Sky: “I’d rather not say what was discussed with the fans.”
Hertha goalkeeper Marcel Lotka after the game on the Sky microphone: “Maxi Mittelstädt said we have to take off our jerseys. And then I did it because it was required. Out of respect. They gave everything for us. Of course that’s disappointing for the fans.”
Sky expert Lothar Matthäus: “You’ve already seen fans on the pitch. Maybe one or the other got to do with fear. An absolute humiliation. Maybe the fans go too far there. It’s a shame that something like that happens.”
On the way to the catacombs, there was even a mob duel between supporters and Hertha star Ascacibar. The Argentine stormed back shirtless. Among other things, the Spanish swear word “Puta” (German: whore) was heard.
Hertha boss Fredi Bobic when asked if he would have taken off his jersey as well: “I wouldn’t have taken off my jersey. I wear the jersey with pride. I understand the frustration. Losing the third derby in a row is no fun for any of us. But we are athletes. We’re de-escalating it, but there’s no need to gloat. “Avoid.”
After the bankruptcy, Hertha is in the penultimate place in the table. In the next few weeks it will be up against direct competitors FC Augsburg, VfB Stuttgart and Arminia Bielefeld.
“I don’t see it that badly. The next opponents are not quite at the level of Union Berlin,” said Hertha coach Felix Magath.
with dpa
