By Roberto Lamprecht
Michal Karbownik (22) came from the Premier League from Brighton as a new key player for 2.5 million. He is also the most valuable professional in the Hertha squad (market value: 4 million). But he has been out for two games. Coach Dardai is dissatisfied with the Polish international.
Hertha’s royal transfer is only good enough for the bank – what’s going on?
Hertha’s Michal Karbownik versus Fürth’s Robert Wagner (l) Photo: Sebastian Christoph Gollnow/dpa
BZ explains why coach Pal Dardai (47) shaved the professional, who can play three positions (left- and right-back as well as defensive midfield). Karbownik didn’t play a minute in the cup against Mainz (3-0) and in Rostock (0-0).
Main reason: Dardai is dissatisfied with the defensive behavior. Karbownik covers the space too much and covers the opponent too little, giving them too many chances to score.
Hertha managing director Thomas E. Herrich, new signing Michal Karbownik and sports director Benjamin Weber – the hopes in the Poles were huge at the beginning Photo: Jan-Philipp Burmann/City-Press GmbH
Proof: In his first two appearances, Karbownik won 80 percent of his duels, from the sixth to the eighth matchday 60 percent, but from the ninth to the eleventh matchday only 40 percent!
Consequence: Hertha’s shots were blown in the last four Karbownik games against Paderborn (16), Nuremberg (17), Schalke (16) and St. Pauli (24). There were always goals conceded and two defeats.
For comparison: In the last two games WITHOUT Poland’s national team player, Rostock only had eight shots on goal and Mainz had nine. Hertha stayed without conceding a goal.
Dardai: “The fact that there is zero at the back is the most important thing! Tight pressing, that’s my football.”
Hertha’s royal transfer has to fight his way back into the team…