Hamburg (dpa) – With the 1-0 victory in the relegation first leg behind them, coach Tim Walter from Hamburger SV goes into the second encounter against Hertha BSC with enthusiasm and courage, anticipation and conviction.
“We’ll do everything we can to make all the fans and the city happy,” said Walter the day before the football game on Monday (8:30 p.m. / Sky and Sat.1) in the sold-out Volksparkstadion.
The Berliners have different feelings after the home defeat. “I’m convinced that the boys will go into this game with a certain amount of anger,” said Hertha’s sporting director Fredi Bobic. His pros could win passion if “they’re a little mad at themselves,” said Bobic.
Hertha BSC wants to avoid the seventh Bundesliga relegation in its history, and HSV wants to finally play in the big league again after four years in the second division. It’s also about showing character on the pitch, said Walter and praised: “We show every time that we are a team, and teams can achieve great things.”
Magath can count on midfield player Santiago Ascacibar again, who was suspended in the first leg. The coach described him as a mentality player. Kevin-Prince Boateng, who, unlike in the first leg, is to be used this time, is a final player, according to Magath. Goalkeeper Marcel Lotka is still missing with a broken nose and a minor concussion. Oliver Christensen should replace him again, for whom it would only be the second competitive game for the Berliners.