Off to America!

When the plane with flight number LH4270 takes off from Berlin Brandenburg (BER) on Tuesday morning, the Hertha players will finally have finished their winter holidays. After fitness tests at the beginning of the week, the schedule will then turn to a training camp at the IMG Academy at Brandenton in Tampa. The Blue-Whites will be working on their form on Florida’s golf coast – with pleasant temperatures of around 20ºC expected. “We are looking forward to the training camp and want to use the opportunity to work hard on certain key areas: above all, on precision in our attacking play,” said head coach Sandro Schwarz, who was also able to rely on everything learnt in the past months. “In the first 15 league games we have come a long way and built stability. We have the clear aim to build on that and to take the next step.”

Four goalkeepers, 24 outfield players – Plattenhardt stays in Berlin

Two sessions a day should help in this undertaking, while there are also four friendlies scheduled. Alongside the training team and backroom staff, there are 28 players in America, with four goalkeepers and 24 outfield players. Captain Marvin Plattenhardt remains in Berlin due to his vaccination status. “We spoke about the topic in advance. It is not a problem for us. We will take it how it is and make the best out of the situation. Platte will train with the U23s and join us again after our return,” said Schwarz. Despite the absence of his captain, the head coach would like to use this opportunity in the USA to further improve team spirit: “We have grown together as a group in the past months. Nevertheless, the additional days together will help us work together well even better.” Attacking player Marco Richter also travelled to the states feeling positive. “We put in good performances in the first half of the season. Even if it the number of points we collected has not been ideal, we still have that self-belief. After the break, we are pleased to be able to get going again,” said Hertha’s number 23.

Hertha BSC’s squad for their USA tour: Oliver Christensen, Tjark Ernst, Leon Cuk, Tim Goller (goalkeepers), Peter Pekarík, Agustín Rogel, Filip Uremović, Suat Serdar, Jean-Paul Boëtius, Myziane Maolida, Dodi Lukébakio, Jonjoe Kenny, Maximilian Mittelstädt, Wilfried Kanga, Stevan Jovetić, Marc Kempf, Marco Richter, Jessic Ngankam, Lukas Ullrich, Prince Boateng, Lucas Tousart, Márton Dárdai, Ivan Šunjić, Deyovaisio Zeefuik, Derry Scherhant, Chidera Ejuke, Julian Eitschberger, Pascal Klemens.