Hertha Berlin

There is no greater contrast than the scenes late on Saturday afternoon at the Olympiastadion. While the away fans and players wearing red were celebrating, there was only disappointment in the Blue-Whites camp after a 2-0 defeat to 1. FC Union. “The bottom line is that it is another defeat at home, which is frustrating and disappointing. We had good moments going forward – but either the final ball wasn’t perfect, there was a leg in the way, or the goalkeeper made a good save, there was always something. We have to work hard to get that slice of luck again, pick ourselves up, score goals and win games,” suggested Marco Richter. herthabsc.com has summarised the immediate reaction to the game.

Hertha BSC’s steering committee, together with the supervisory board of the Hertha BSC e.V., have released sporting director Fredi Bobic from his duties with immediate effect.

After the dismissal of Fredi Bobic on Saturday, club president Kay Bernstein, board member Klaus Brüggemann and managing director Thomas Herrich spoke at a press conference on Sunday afternoon. They were joined by Benjamin Weber, who has assumed the role of sporting director at the ‘Old Lady’. At the 42-minute-long conference, the club management explained the reasons for the change and introduced Weber to the media. The four also spoke about Andreas “Zecke” Neuendorf, who will be the club’s new director of academy and first team football. “In Benny and Zecke, we have two figures who people can identify with who live for Hertha. That’s exactly what we need,” said the president. Brüggeman added, “The decision was about Hertha BSC, not about Fredi Bobic, Kay Bernstein or the advisory board. After taking everything into consideration, we fully support the decision taken by the board.” Weber was looking forward to the task of his new role. “I’m a Berliner, I’m a Herthaner. I’m really happy to be returning to my club and I’m fired up to get to work. I’ll talk to Sandro Schawrz and his coaching team. We absolutely have a clear plan that we want to follow as a team. I have always been a team player and one of my main tasks will be to get the whole Hertha family on board.”

Notwithstanding the busy schedule, it has been an eventful few days for Hertha. Marco Richter, however, is looking to the future after the defeat to Union at the weekend. “We have to put everything negative out of our minds and pick ourselves up again,” explained the number 23. Sandro Schwarz also made it clear that his side need to focus on the upcoming tasks as Hertha kicked off their training week on Tuesday afternoon: “We had a meeting about how we can deal with this situation. The simplest thing to do is to take care of things together out on the pitch and uphold the trust amongst ourselves,” said the head coach.

A familiar face will be pulling on a Hertha shirt once again, with Tolga Ciğerci returning to the club and signing a contract until 2024. The 30-year-old previously played for the Blue-Whites between 2013 and 2016. “In Tolga, we are getting an experienced player who is strong in the tackle, brings a fantastic mentality and already knows the Bundesliga and also Hertha BSC. We are pleased that he will now be wearing the blue and white shirt again and will help us achieve our aim of staying in the Bundesliga,” said sporting director Benjamin Weber. The midfielder, who can play in both defensive and attacking midfield, is excited to be returning and is eager to get underway: “This club means so much to me. I’m absolutely delighted to be back. We’ll take on this challenge together,” said our new number 6.

The club have terminated Daishawn Redan’s loan to FC Utrecht, which had been in place since the summer, instead agreeing an immediate transfer to Venezia FC for the 21-year-old striker. “This is the good solution for all parties. We wish Daishawn all the best for the future,” said sporting director Benjamin Weber.

Alongside the announcement of new signing Tolga Ciğerci, there was also one outgoing for the ‘Old Lady’ on the last day of the transfer window – at least until the summer. Myziane Maolida has moved on loan to French team Stade Reims until the end of the season. “The chance came up for Myziane to move back to his homeland and to be able to gain minutes there playing in the French first division. We wish him all the best,” said sporting director Benjamin Weber about the transfer on Tuesday.

Wind and rain at the Olympiastadion? Tolga Ciğerci can still remember it well. But even the bad weather can’t extinguish the positive anticipation ahead of his return to Hertha BSC. “It is nice to be back. I didn’t have to think too long because I had a good time here in the past,” said our new signing. Since leaving Berlin in 2016, almost seven years ago, a lot has changed for him in the fast-moving world of football, but the connection between Hertha’s new number 6 and the ‘Old Lady’ has stayed the test of time. “Obviously I have always followed Hertha closely. I would like to help the team with my performances and experience both on and off the pitch.” In his first interview after rejoining the club, Ciğerci spoke to herthabsc.com about his decision to return to Berlin, important values to him and his personal objectives.

As questions were asked about his trust in his squad, Sandro Schwarz raised the tone of his voice and gesticulated passionately in the air in front of him to emphasise what he was saying. “Everyone has to be clear: These are our boys, this is our team! They have given everything and proven often enough that they are able to deal with adversity, play our style of football and successfully compete in games. We have the responsibility to show that side of us again,” said the 44-year-old in the press conference ahead of the away game on Saturday against Eintracht Frankfurt (04.02.23, 15:30 CET). Benjamin Weber also took his place alongside the coach at a press conference for the first time. The new Hertha sporting director spoke about the transfer window which has just closed. “I am pleased. We were clear that we would only make a move if we were 100% convinced by it.” The focus now turns to the clash in Frankfurt. herthabsc.com has summarised the key points as Schwarz and Weber spoke about…

Sandro Schwarz made two changes to the starting eleven for the away game in Frankfurt. Jonjoe Kenny came back into the back four, replacing the injured Peter Pekarík (knee injury). Upfront, Florian Niederlechner made his first start for the club in the place of Wilfried Kanga, who is out for a short while with a toe injury. New signing Tolga Ciğerci made the matchday squad for the first time since returning and found himself on the bench.