Who will be Hertha’s new Hamburg hero?

By Paul Gorgas

On Saturday evening (8.30 p.m., on free TV on Sport1), the Berliners will play the second division cracker at HSV. Coach Pal Dardai’s team (47) is determined to score the first points of the new season after two defeats at the start.

And the coach has already prepared a script for this – based on the successful relegation rescue about a year ago, when the Berliners managed to stay up with a 2-0 win in Hamburg.

Coach Dardai watched the game from afar at the time – and saw how ex-captain Marvin Plattenhardt (31) sunk a free kick in the corner. Dardai is also hoping for such a dream goal on Saturday: “I would like a shot on Sunday so that we can take the lead. That wouldn’t be bad if a midfielder swings back and we lead with a nice goal.”

In addition to the attackers Fabian Reese (25), Haris Tabakovic (29) and Palko Dardai (24), Marco Richter (25) and Suat Serdar (26) are particularly challenged. The two midfield players should work out degrees and try it from a distance. The duo recently gained self-confidence in the 5-0 cup win in Jena.

Serdar shone there as a connection player in the center and initiated several attacks. Dardai praised: “Suat is a prototype for this. I was very satisfied with his performance.” And Richter shot his frustration off with his brace. Dardai: “He just played. That’s important for our offensive and good for his self-confidence.”

This is how it should work for the midfielders at HSV. Dardai gives his pros the command to shoot! The coach: “We want to shoot at least 16 to 22 times from the sixteenth, so that it becomes dangerous.” Because only then does the probability of scoring the first goal of the season in the 2nd division increase.

Dardai: “We don’t have to be ashamed of our attacking game. We had more shots on goal in Jena than we had in years. We’re trying to keep at it.”

To get the first win of the season!