From BZ/dpa
Hertha has one last chance in Hamburg to avert the seventh relegation from the Bundesliga. Hertha coach Felix Magath has now revealed which players he wants to bet on on Monday.
In his team’s decisive relegation game, he relies on the leading players Santiago Ascacibar and Kevin-Prince Boateng as well as the standards of Marvin Plattenhardt. “With Santi as a tackler, as a midfielder with a lot of running power who is uncomfortable for the opponent, we will have someone who can disrupt Hamburg’s play structure better than was the case in the first leg,” said the 68-year-old on the Sunday before Second leg of the Berliners in the Bundesliga relegation at Hamburger SV on Monday evening (8.30 p.m. / Sat.1 and Sky).
Hertha BSC
The 25-year-old Argentinian missed the 0-1 draw in Berlin on Thursday due to a yellow card suspension. Ascacibar is “a very important mentality player,” said Magath. Niklas Stark was not able to fully fill this role in the first leg due to the aftermath of an infection.
Kevin-Prince Boateng also continues to play a major role in the coach’s plans. “The Prince is a finalist. He knows how it works,” said Magath. “Of course the team needs that too.” Boateng is an important leader in the squad of the Berliners. However, he was not used in the first leg.
In the first leg, the Berliners were sometimes too passive and, as has often been the case in recent weeks, found it difficult to create opportunities.
Boateng should ensure more order on the offensive, said Magath. “Unfortunately, we’re in the situation that we don’t have a player on offense who has a constant goal guarantee,” said the coach.
That’s why the free kicks and corner balls from full-back Plattenhardt are all the more important. “Our greatest weapon is when Platte goes for set pieces,” said Magath.