Hertha Berlin

Maximilian Mittelstädt has proudly donned the Hertha colours since 2012, and will be staying put for a few more years. The academy product, who has been playing for the first team since 2015, has extended his contract until 2027. “We all know what we have in Maxi. He’s a reliable left-back who can also contribute to our attack,” praised Fredi Bobic. “Maxi is a great representative of our club and a role model for our academy players, who are seeking to follow the same path he has. We’re very pleased to be able to continue working together in the future.”

Maximilian Mittelstädt is here to stay! On Wednesday, our academy product – who has been at the club since 2012 – announced that he had extended his contract until 2027. “Everyone knows what Hertha BSC means to me. I’m a Berliner, I’m a Herthaner and I’ve grown up with this club. It was always my dream to play for the Old Lady. The length of this contract signifies the relationship and the mutual respect both parties have for each other, and that we’re counting on each other for the long term,” said Mittelstädt. In an interview with herthabsc.de, the 25-year-old spoke about his connection to the club, old and new memories and what he hopes to achieve in Berlin.

herthabsc.de: Maxi, congratulations on your contract extension! Let’s start by talking about a specific date: does 19th August 2015 ring a bell for you?
Mittelstädt: Hmm, that was around the time I became a professional. Maybe signing my first contract? I was very, very happy about it. It was something very special for me. As a youngster, I’d always dreamed about this day, and then it finally came true.

herthabsc.com: And 2nd March 2016?
Mittelstädt: That must have been my Bundesliga debut (grins). I was subbed on shortly before the final whistle, and we were winning 2-0 against Eintracht Frankfurt – I was so nervous. When they called me back to the bench to put my shinpads on, I nearly cut off my circulation because of how tight I taped them (laughs). But I didn’t care, I just wanted to get out on the pitch as quickly as possible. That was an indescribable moment for me. My first time playing at the Olympiastadion and celebrating a win with the fans in the Ostkurve. I was equally as excited when I made my first start against Bayern München a few weeks later.

In the last ten weeks there have been a lot of exciting developments in the world of football. But, obviously some things have remained the same, among these the Bundesliga table, which has remained unchanged since the middle of November. For this reason, ahead of the continuation of the competition this coming weekend, previous results do not play a deciding role. “Obviously there is a lot of anticipation after a two month break. The boys also showed this once again during the week’s training. We used our winter preparation very well,” explained Sandro Schwarz in the press conference ahead of Hertha’s first game of 2023 against VfL Bochum (21.01.23, 15:30 CET). “The match has arrived! It is now about having that extra 5% desire that is needed and having the necessary hunger so that we are as prepared as possible to push for a result,” underlined the head coach. The media’s questions at the press conference ahead of the game focussed above all on personnel and their opponents. “Bochum have found the strengths once again that made them stand out in the first year after promotion. Bochum as a team feed off a competitive approach to games,” suggested Fredi Bobic. herthabsc.com has summarised all of the important answers from Sandro Schwarz and Fredi Bobic. The two covered…

Exactly 70 days after their last Bundesliga game against 1. FC Köln, Sandro Schwarz set his team up in a 4-2-3-1 formation for the first game of the year in Bochum. In front of goalkeeper Oliver Christensen, there was a back four of Jonjoe Kenny, Agustín Rogel, Marc Kempf and Maximilian Mittelstädt. Ivan Šunjić and Lucas Tousart, who was captaining the side for the third time in the Bundesliga made up the double pivot, with Marco Richter, Jean-Paul Boëtius and Derry Scherhant in attacking midfield. It was Scherhant’s first start in the Bundesliga. Wilfried Kanga was the lone man up front. Among those on the bench was Jessic Ngankam for the first time since he returned from Fürth last summer. New signing Florian Niederlechner missed the game, as did Stevan Jovetić (muscular problems) and Dodi Lukébakio (suspension).

The anticipation built up after the longest winter break in Bundesliga history makes Hertha’s 3-1 defeat to Bochum all the more disappointing. The bottom line after matchday 16 of the 2022/23 season was a feeling of pure frustration. “We will have to analyse the game with no holds barred and pull our socks up, run, compete and show a different side of us. Here, it was completely dreadful,” said a disappointed Marco Richter.Maximilian Mittelstädt didn’t want to blame the defeat on the disallowed goal. “In my opinion, the Bochum player controlled the ball so it was another phase of play and the goal should have stood. It is frustrating but we have to take a look at ourselves.” herthabsc.com has summarised all the reaction to the game.

Two home games in a week represent two opportunities with the supporters behind them for Hertha to add to their points tally. In the first of two clashes this week awaits an opponent in good form in the shape of Wolfsburg on Tuesday (24.01.23, 20:30 CET), but it is a game that Hertha nevertheless want to approach with confidence. “Wolfsburg are defined by their togetherness, willingness to run and self-belief. We have to show the qualities on the pitch that we’ve already shown in the past and that define our game especially with regards to intensity. We have to call upon these qualities to beat Wolfsburg,” explained Sandro Schwarz. This trust in his team’s abilities was also shown by Fredi Bobic. “We are clear-headed, haven’t minced our words and know that we are fighting to stay in the division. Now we have to give the team strength. The boys have shown already that they can do it – and they will show this again,” underlined Hertha’s director for sports and communications. herthabsc.com have summarised all of Schwarz’s and Bobic’s key comments on…

Just three day after the Bundesliga restart away at VfL Bochum, Hertha faced their next challenge in the Bundesliga in the shape of VfL Wolfsburg. Sandro Schwarz made two changes to the side that started against Bochum, with Suat Serdar coming in for Jean-Paul Boëtius in midfield and Dodi Lukébakio replacing Derry Scherhant on the wing.

Hertha are currently in the midst of a very busy schedule. Their three games this week mean that Sandro Schwarz has to conduct six press conferences. The fifth instalment was on the agenda for the head coach on Thursday afternoon as attention now turns to Saturday’s derby against Union (28th January, 15:30 CET). The 44-year-old sees the clash as the perfect opportunity to turn things around. “It’s a huge opportunity for us to completely change the mood. A derby game is always full of emotion, regardless of the league table. We want to generate a different atmosphere within the club,” explained Schwarz. Fredi Bobic echoed these sentiments in Thursday’s presser: “We have to fully accept the situation. We can move a lot of things in a positive direction on Saturday but it’s down to us to do it. We will continue to instil this into the players right up until kick off.”

Sandro Schwarz and Fredi Bobic on…

Young goalkeeper Tim Goller, who has been at the club since he was 13, has signed his first pro deal on his 18th birthday, which will run until 2025. “Tim has shown that he’s one of our most talented youngsters in recent years with his consistent performances. His time with the first team in Florida and his U23s debut against Jena just underlined his excellent progress,” commented Fredi Bobic on Thursday.

There were four changes to the Hertha starting eleven for the derby against 1. FC Union. Sandro Schwarz brought Marvin Plattenhardt, Filip Uremović, Peter Pekarík and Jean-Paul Boëtius into the side for the final game of this double gameweek. Agustín Rogel (suspension) and Jonjoe Kenny (concussion) missed out entirely, while Maximilian Mittelstädt and Ivan Šunjić dropped to the bench. Florian  Niederlechner was also on the benchfor the first time. Pekarík made his first start of the season and it was Uremović’s first start since October. Former Hertha player Genki Haraguchi was on the bench for the visitors.