In Florida Jürgen Klinsmann wants to make Hertha BSC fit for the ambitious goals in the second half of the season. But the head coach didn’t want to go to Orlando. A ten-hour flight and the considerable time difference make it difficult for the team to prepare. By Jakob Rüger
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The conditions in Orlando are actually optimal. Blue sky, temperatures of just under 22 degrees and a four-star hotel that is impressive. But Jürgen Klinsmann, who is always smiling, frowns when it comes to training camps in the USA. “It’s not ideal,” Klinsmann says skeptically about the trip to Florida.
“The contracts have been made and of course we are sticking to it” The ten-hour flight and the time difference of six hours cost Klinsmann two full training days. To make matters worse, there is also a two-hour delay due to technical problems on the aircraft when leaving Germany.
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Klinsmann brought 27 players to Orlando – including three goalkeepers. Part of the tour group is new signing Santiago Ascasibar. The 22-year-old Argentinian was introduced as the first new winter entry on New Year’s Day. Hertha BSC transfers almost eleven million euros to the second division Stuttgart for the defensive midfielder. Playmaker Ondrej Duda also traveled. Hertha’s best scorer last season speaks openly of farewell. “I want to go. I don’t change my mind. If someone doesn’t want you, it is not possible to stay,” said the 25-year-old Slovakian to the specialist magazine “Kicker”, referring to Klinsmann.
The smallest possible squad should work on the automatisms and lay the foundations for the second half of the season. Every unit is important to the trainer: “In our situation we are forced to do more than the others”. For Klinsmann, Hertha BSC is still in the relegation battle despite all the optimism that it spreads. But that should change as soon as possible. “We want to get to the top as quickly as possible and then Europe is the goal in the medium term”. The trainer in Orlando wants to lay the foundation for this. “We will work in the football and tactical area,” announced Klinsmann. “It is also important to have discussions during this period so that the boys know what they are up to.”
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The squad should change in the winter transfer period. Salomon Kalou and Ondrej Duda are just two possible exits. Hertha is also actively looking for new players and, thanks to investor Windhorst, has completely new opportunities. “We are looking towards the Champions League teams,” said Klinsmann. “Who is in good hands there, who has no perspective anymore. It is also perceived in Europe that we have a completely new goal. “Hertha is associated with prominent names. Julian Draxler, Mario Götze, Emre Can and Granit Xhaka are just some of the top European players whom Hertha apparently asked for. That still a new addition to the team in Florida is unlikely.
In the one-week training camp shortened by Klinsmann, there will be a friendly against Eintracht Frankfurt. An important appearance for Hertha, after all the game is broadcast on US television. Another reason why canceling the trip to Florida, despite Klinsmann’s intervention, was not an option. The coach is not happy. “I don’t think anyone thought we were in such a precarious situation and fighting relegation when we went to Florida.” The coach will therefore closely observe that his players are fully focused: “We are simply making the best of it now”.
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Broadcast: Inforadio, January 2, 2019, 6:15 p.m.
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