By Roberto Lamprecht and Paul Gorgas
Less playing time, more goals – this unusual role makes Dodi Lukebakio (25) shine again at Hertha.
In a new joker role, he can play centrally in the storm and has scored two goals in three games recently: 4-1 against Gladbach and now the beautiful 2-0 against Augsburg.
Coach Sandro Schwarz on Dodi’s role change: “Sometimes there are decisions that a player doesn’t find exciting. But I’m happy that Dodi is showing the right reaction.”
Lukebakio seems ready to take on the new joker role, saying: “It’s just a matter of scoring and getting out below.” He is a great beacon of hope, his own sensitivities are put behind.
Review: After seven goals in 15 games as a winger, he received offers from Seville, Lyon and Eindhoven during the winter break. The Belgian wanted to leave, Hertha didn’t give permission. The drop in performance followed, no goals in the first four games in 2023.
Due to Hertha’s system change to 5-3-2, in which a more defensive type of player is needed on the flank, he was even thrown out of the starting XI.
Curious: Since then it’s been running again, at Hertha and at Dodi! The Belgian is Hertha’s most successful scorer (9 goals and 2 assists).