Hertha Berlin

It’s a national holiday, but not for the Hertha players as they work hard on Thursday for the upcoming meeting with VfL Bochum (20/5, 15:30 CEST) and the chance to keep survival hopes alive. Pál Dárdai and Benjamin Weber were at the press conference ahead of the match. “We have to win for the fans! These last games have a special meaning. Regardless of what happens afterwards, every player’s task is to show respect and work hard,” stressed the head coach ahead of the final home game of the season. Hertha’s sporting director also added emphatically: “Even though we only have a small chance, we want to give our all for it. No one has quit here and giving up is not an option!” herthabsc.com has summarised the most important comments from Dárdai and Weber on…

After playing on Friday night, the Hertha players were back on the training ground on Monday afternoon ahead of the final home game of the season against VfL Bochum on Saturday (20/5/23, 15:30 CEST). The squad and coaching team spent an hour doing some video analysis before training started at Schenckendorffplatz. “We analysed the Köln game once again and are now preparing for our final two games as we look to try and take our small chance,” said Pál Dárdai. “Things are no longer in our own hands and we need to hope that others slip up. We need to win at home this weekend and then we’ll just have to see what else happens.”

There was a moment of real hope in the first half after Hertha shook off an early setback and battled back into a 2-1 lead. However, a double blow before the break and a poor second-half performance ultimately led to a heavy 5-2 defeat in Cologne – a deserved one according to Marvin Plattenhardt. “We’re incredibly disappointed. We left too many gaps open at the back and allowed too many crosses. We addressed it at half time, but we still struggled to deal with it after the break,” said the captain. However, while survival is still mathematically possible, giving up is not an option, even though Florian Niederlechner spoke of a “horrible feeling” after the full-time whistle. We rounded up the players’ reaction.

As mentioned at his pre-match press conference, Pál Dárdai didn’t make any changes to the side that started last week’s win over VfB Stuttgart, with the Hungarian setting his team up in a 4-4-2 formation. His opposite number Steffen Baumgart brought two new players into his starting line-up: Kingsley Schindler replaced the suspended Benno Schmitz and Eric Martel came in for Jan Thielmann. The Billy Goats also began with former Berliner Davie Selke up front.

Friday night football under lights, an exciting prospect for any fan of the game. Hertha kick off Bundesliga matchday 32 at 20:30 CEST against 1. FC Köln and would like to pick up another three points in the fight for survival after a win at home against Stuttgart last Saturday. “We can’t be satisfied after a win and have to keep going. We need a run, to take the next and can’t afford to give up an inch,” said Pál Dárdai at his press conference. Benjamin Weber joined Hertha’s head coach and described the positive lessons from the last game. “I’m pleased by the togetherness and the communication that the team showed again against Stuttgart. The way that they got the result over the line together and really fought for the win helps. It gives you self-confidence and gives us all optimism for the run-in. Now we have to up the ante!” herthabsc.com has summarised the most important comments from Dárdai and Weber on…

After Stuttgart comes Köln: Hertha picked up crucial points against the Swabians and now the focus shifts to the upcoming task in the Rhineland. “We have given ourselves a chance through commitment and hard work. That doesn’t mean that we’re overjoyed, however, but rather still very much focused. We all feel that we are on the right path, and we have to continue on it,” stressed Pál Dárdai after his first win since returning to coach the side. “Teams are able to win every game at the end of the season, and that’s why we’ll continue to fight as long as it’s possible,” he said, also adding ahead of the match on Friday (12/5, 20:30 CEST) against Köln that “they have a good coach, a good team and a good atmosphere there, but we are also playing well. Our boys are fresh and fully fit, especially mentally.” Here is everything the head coach had to say at the press conference on…

Pál Dárdai set his team up in a 4-2-3-1 formation and made four changes from the team that started against Bayern Munich. Marc Kempf returned after suspension, while Márton Dárdai, Marco Richter and Stevan Jovetić also came into the side. While Hertha’s number 20 took up his normal position at centre-back, Dárdai lined up alongside Lucas Tousart in defensive midfield. Jovetić played as a ten, with Richter to his left and Dodi Lukébakio on the right; Florian Niederlechner played upfront. Prince Boateng, who also missed out last weekend, was on the bench alongside Agustín Rogel, Maximilian Mittelstädt, Jean-Paul Boëtius, Tjark Ernst, Suat Serdar, Ibrahim Maza and Chidera Ejuke. For Sebastian Hoeneß’s side, Atakan Karazor was suspended due to a tenth yellow card, while Konstantinos Mavropanos missed out through injury. Former Hertha player Genki Haraguchi started for Stuttgart.

The relief in the Blue-White camp was clear for all to see as the players stood in the mixed zone following a hard-fought 2-1 win against VfB Stuttgart. At the same time, it was emphasised that these three points will have to be just the first step in a challenging path to survival. “That was a crucial game. If we had not won it then it would probably be over – as it is, we are still alive,” underlined Stevan Jovetić, who along with his teammates will take on Köln on Friday. “It’s still not an easy situation, we have to keep fighting with the right mentality, persistence and character,” said the Montenegro international and added his confidence in Hertha achieving their aim at the end of the season: “Do I still believe that we can stay up? Definitely!” herthabsc.com has all the immediate reaction to the win against VfB Stuttgart.

Pál Dárdai has taken on VfB Stuttgart at the Olympiastadion as Hertha head coach three times. On each occasion, the Hungarian coach’s side have had the upper hand – most recently on 4th May 2019. Now the aim is to do this for a fourth time. “In Munich, we saw a team on the pitch. The team has to stay compact like that. The most important thing is that we have confidence among ourselves, the fans will always be behind us,” said the head coach. The number four was also reference by the head coach himself when asked about his possible line-up for the weekend’s game. “On Saturday, we have to send out a team with a winning mentality that can win the game for us. Football has its own dynamic. Winning is important – not explaining how to win. Four games, four wins – that’s the motto we are living by!” herthabsc.com has all of Dárdai key comments on…

Goalless until late in the game, with Hertha able to frustrate Bayern for long periods. The fact that Bayern had to push so hard during their 2-0 home win should give the ‘Old Lady’ confidence once again for the run-in in their fight for survival. “We did well to stand up to this over long periods – unfortunately our opponents were ruthless in the moments when we lost our concentration. We defended well over long periods, but unfortunately had problems in transition which we didn’t use properly. But, you saw that we are a team. We have to take this defensive stability with us and give absolutely everything going into these last few games,” said Maximilian Mittelstädt. herthabsc.com has all the immediate reaction to the away game in Munich.