“Results, results, results“

Pál Dárdai’s first press conference as head coach this time around didn’t only contain a bit of déjà vu for the man himself, but also for many of the journalists who had previously had the opportunity to hear the Hungarian at the podium and to ask him questions. But this time the starting position for the 47-year-old is obviously completely different from his last spell at the club. “It is a difficult situation and I am not here to promise anything, but it is now my responsibility to keep the team in the league once again. This time we will need not only hard work, but also a lot of strength and positive energy,” explained Dárdai, who wants to get the ball moving in the right direction again along with the boys. “I don’t like the word ‘hope’, but we will need a bit of luck. Other teams have already had that, but above all we now have to work on ourselves and force this luck to change. In a relegation battle it’s about results, results, results!”

Weber’s thanks to Schwarz – current position as motivation

Benjamin Weber was also hoping for an upturn in results but also expressly thanked Dárdai’s predecessor once again and transparently described the sequence leading up to the change in coach on Hertha’s bench. “We used Saturday to analyse the situation together with Sandro Schwarz, we didn’t want to make a decision based on the emotion at that time and would like to thank him as well as Volkan Bulut and Daniel Fischer for putting their heart and soul into it and for their passion and efforts for Hertha BSC,” said Hertha’s sporting director, who then looked forward to the present and the future. “We are 18th – many have probably already written us off, but that motivates us. We’re pleased to have been able to get Pál in for this situation. He knows every blade of grass here, we all know him and he needs no time to settle in. We’re pleased to get working together!” herthabsc.com has summarised all the key comments from Dárdai and Weber on…

… the lead-up to the change:

Pál Dárdai: I spoke with Benny [Weber] and Tom Herrich for a long time and have known both for years. We have done a lot of work together in and around the academy. Really the plan was for me to return in the summer and do my bit in helping to keep Hertha youth players here with us more often, but now it is my responsibility to keep the team in the league. It is a difficult situation and I am not here to promise anything, but it is now my responsibility to keep the team in the league once again. This time we will need not only hard work, but also a lot of strength and positive energy.

Benjamin Weber: There were a couple of short nights behind us. The impression from the game in Gelsenkirchen was disappointing and tough to take. It was important to digest it a bit first. We used Saturday to analyse the situation together with Sandro Schwarz, we didn’t want to make a decision based on the emotion at that time and would like to thank him as well as Volkan Bulut and Daniel Fischer for putting their heart and soul into it and for their passion and efforts for Hertha BSC. We wish them all nothing but the best.

… the current sporting situation:

Pál Dárdai: What do we need to stay up? I don’t like the word ‘hope’, but we will need a bit of luck. Other teams have already had that, but above all we now have to work on ourselves and force this luck to change. In a relegation battle it’s about results, results, results!

Benjamin Weber: We are 18th – many have probably already written us off, but that motivates us. We’re pleased to have been able to get Pál in for this situation. There were several reasons to decide on Pál. He knows every blade of grass here, we all know him and he needs no time to settle in, can help us immediately and make an immediate impact. Obviously, he also stands for the ‘Berlin way’ like no other. Pál was our absolute first-choice and we’re pleased that he agreed to join us.

… his first steps in the job:

Pál Dárdai: Obviously, I already have ideas in my head of a possible system and lots of other things. I can’t say a lot about what we will work on in training, I want to get a picture of the team on the training pitch and talk with the players first. There are lots of mistakes that we have to correct together. The boys have to help each other more and work together better. These are obvious things, I know, but things like these also have to work well in football. What roles certain players in the team will play is down to them. It is about their performances, first in training and then also on matchday. I need leading players, also outside of Prince Boateng. It is about chemistry and one-to-one conversations.

… division of responsibility in the coaching team:

Pál Dárdai: Tamás Bódog has my full trust. He comes from the same city as I do, he played his first league game with my father and I also played with him. He is a professional and a winner, which I need. He also knows all the processes here. Tamás will take care of set-pieces, effectiveness will be a key word for us. It is important to me to have reliable assistant coaches. Admir Hamzagić has been my right-hand man for what feels like 100 years (grins). I have already sat down with both of them, watched the games and analysed upcoming opponents.