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With the winter break in full swing, our Herthaner are off enjoying their Christmas holidays. However, preparations for the second half of the season will begin soon enough, as Hertha BSC look to set the groundwork for a successful end to 2022/23. The Blue-Whites will face VfL Bochum in their first Bundesliga fixture in the new year (21/01/23, 15:30 CET). Head coach Sandro Schwarz will welcome back his team for various performance tests on 2nd January. Just 24 hours later, the team will board a flight to training camp at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. “The focus will be on working on certain individual key areas. We have brought in some stability and seen some good growth, but still need to take further steps,” said Schwarz.
Four friendlies in two days
In addition to several training sessions, Hertha will also contest four friendlies during their time in Florida. On 8th January (20:00 CET), the team will face off against Club de Lyon Orlando, the current league leaders in the Florida Central Conference of the United Premier Soccer League. Lyon have scored 42 goals and conceded just six — both are league bests. Just three hours later, the Blue-Whites will play The Villages SC (23:00 CET). Head coach Anderson DaSilva’s side play in the USL League Two, the highest semi-professional league in the USA. Last season, they finished as runners-up in the Southeast Division. Schwarz is looking for his team to deliver strong attacking performances in these fixtures, adding “We need to become more precise and pose more of a threat in attack and when we have the ball.”
Facing off against the 15-time Colombian champions
Hertha will be back in action three days later, as they host the SIMA Montverde Academy on 11th January (18:00 CET). They will face off against a team of talented youngsters who are taking part in the academy’s year-long program. The training camp will draw to a close with a friendly against 15-time Colombian champions Millonarios FC at the Osceola County Stadium in Orlando on 12th January (01:00 CET). Alfredo di Stéfanos’ former club last won the Categoría Primera A title in 2017, and will be Hertha’s final opponents before the Bundesliga season resumes.
