During his first training session at Hertha BSC, Felix Magath acts as a silent observer. Zug is still in there – which is due to the new Scottish assistant coach.
Felix Magath didn’t live up to his reputation as a “Quälix” in his first training session at Hertha BSC. Initially, there was no tough fitness work, but there were training games to get a first direct impression of the pros. In spring-like weather, the 68-year-old rarely sought direct contact with his players on Tuesday and rather observed them. According to a report by “Bild”, Magath had previously met the team at breakfast.
Unit starts 30 minutes late
When he was introduced on Monday, he said about his assessment of the team: “I’m not a person who only judges things from a distance. I have to get together with people first – I have to see them, I have to hear them, I have to smell them, I have to feel them. Then I can make a statement.” One can assume that Magath will take a close look in the coming days who he trusts with the mission of staying up and who not.
A few minutes after his team, the new coach of the Bundesliga club, which is in acute danger of relegation, entered the pitch on Tuesday. The session started about 30 minutes late and ended after almost 90 minutes. Magath took some time for a selfie with a fan and then walked away.
With the appointment of Magath, Hertha and managing director Fredi Bobic caused a big surprise on Sunday, but also earned a lot of malice. The 68-year-old last worked as a Bundesliga coach in 2012.
In terms of sport, Hertha needs to get back on track better today than tomorrow. Under Magath’s hapless predecessor Tayfun Korkut, the capital club haven’t won a game this year and slipped to 17th place in the table. It’s time for a relegation battle in the Westend. On Saturday (3.30 p.m., in the live ticker on t-online), sixth-placed TSG Hoffenheim comes to the Olympic Stadium.
Assistant coach Fotheringham loudly on the move
Compared to his boss, Magath’s Scottish assistant Mark Fotheringham was very vocal on Tuesday. He led the unit mostly. During an exercise for precise passing and movement, he gave commands again and again, participated himself and cheered on the players, all of whom he already addressed by name, in German with a slight Scottish touch. “Leave off the handbrake” and “just play” called the 38-year-old, who had already worked as an assistant coach at Karlsruher SC and FC Ingolstadt, to the pros during a training game eleven against eleven.
Almost the entire squad was available for the Berliners. Stevan Jovetic and Niklas Stark trained individually due to muscular problems. For the same reason, Kevin-Prince Boateng stepped back a little.
According to a report by “Bild”, the Berliners are working on a commitment from athletics trainer Werner Leuthard, whom Magath knows and who previously worked for Hertha. Either way, Magath should address possible condition deficits in the coming weeks, especially during the international break. The sprint hill that already exists at the Hertha training ground may also be used.
On Monday, the 68-year-old wished that the whole city would have to support Hertha in the fight against relegation. “If our elevators don’t work anywhere in the area around the Olympic Stadium: that’s what the new Hertha coach wanted,” wrote the Berlin transport company on Twitter.