Hertha Berlin

Dear Hertha fans,

Head coach Sandro Schwarz made five changes to the starting line up following yesterday’s semi-final match against TSV 1860 Munich. Jonjoe Kenny, Agustín Rogel, Deyovaisio Zeefuik, Ivan Šunjić and Dodi Lukébakio started in place of Sonny Ziemer, Lucas Tousart, Vladimír Darida and Nader Jindaoui, who all dropped to the bench. Maximilian Mittelstädt was left out of the matchday squad with an adductor issue.

A number of Hertha players have been in action on international duty over the last week.

Hertha BSC are heading to the United States once again, and not just for a training camp at the start of next year. The inaugural Innovation Conference took place in New Jersey in recent days. Together with Archetype Football Group and National Women’s Soccer League side NJ/NY Gotham FC, Hertha BSC invited various representatives from the world of U.S. sports to attend. The list of attendees included general managers, sporting directors and other partners from Major League Soccer (MLS), the National Football League (NFL) and Major League Baseball (MLB). “A cross-sports conference like this is of huge benefit for everyone involved. The input received is incredibly valuable and helps to break down and expand one’s pattern of thinking,” said Fredi Bobic, managing director of the Hertha BSC. “It’s a great honour and extremely exciting to be able to host this conference, together with Hertha. We are providing a platform for experts in the field of sports data to network and connect with each other. As an American and a life-long Hertha fan, it’s a dream come true to watch both of my worlds come together and celebrate the progress being made in football and in sports data analytics,” said Josh Murphy, CEO of Archetype Football Group.

Sandro Schwarz set up the team in a 4-2-3-1 formation in Ludwigsfelde. Tjark Ernst took his place in goal, while Derry Scherhant also started. Stevan Jovetić, Jessic Ngankam, Dodi Lukébakio, Jonjoe Kenny, Jean-Paul Boëtius (muscular problems), Myziane Maolida, Prince Boateng (knee problems) as well as Maximilian Mittelstädt and Marvin Plattenhardt (adductor problems) missed the game due to injury.

“Short and snappy” was the motto on Monday afternoon when the Hertha squad came out onto the training pitch following their indoor athletics session. Following the 5-0 friendly win Ludwigsfelder FC, the green light was given for the final few tasks before the Christmas break. Our Blue and Whites will cross off another part of their winter schedule when they take on Hannover 96 on Friday (02.12.22).

The next Berlin youngster from our academy has made the jump to the first team. Ensar Ankasal signed a long-term contract that keeps him at the club until 2025. “Dynamic, a threat in front of goal, versatile: Ensar brings us a lot of quality and has already proved his quality in the U23s. We’re excited that he would like to make that next step at Hertha BSC,” expressed Fredi Bobic. Pablo Thiam is another excited party. “It is always a recognition of our collaboration when a young talent receives a professional contract. We’re looking forward to what Ensar will do and to seeing him develop further,” said the head coach of the academy.  

Sandro Schwarz set up his side in a 4-3-3, instead of the 4-2-3-1 seen in the 5-0 friendly win against Ludwigsfelder FC. He also made two personnel changes, with Ivan Šunjić replacing Derry Scherhant in midfield, and Wilfried Kanga instead of Davie Selke up front.

Linus Gechter has joined Eintracht Braunschweig on loan for the rest of the 2022/23 season. The deal doesn’t include a buy option. The Berlin-born centre-back will be allowed to train immediately with Braunschweig. “Linus is a massively talented lad and we want to aid his development as best we can. He’s already been able to show his potential at just 18,” said Fredi Bobic. “We want this loan to give him minutes in the second division to enable him to take the next step in his development, that’s the most important thing at his age. We’re looking forward to seeing him again in the summer.”

Head coach Sandro Schwarz set up our boys in a 4-3-3 formation for the last game of the year. In front of around 400 spectators, Deyovaisio Zeefuik missed a chance for an early lead in a one-on-one with Ron-Thorben Hoffmann (5’). Our defence and goalkeeper Tjark Ernst were first called into action for the second division team’s first attack through Lion Lauberbach and Michael Schultz (12’). Derry Scherhant, like Dodi Lukébakio, took the next shot from a tight angle, but Hoffmann twice was ready to stop it (18’, 23’). But the 2. Bundesliga side weren’t to back down: Ernst had to intervene again against the quick Lauberbach and make a save (27’). Shortly before the break, our Blue and Whites had three great opportunities: Chidera Ejuke fired too high from 18 yards (42’), Lucas Tousart found his shot blocked (43’) and Scherhant’s effort wasn’t to be (44’), meaning we went into the break goalless.