Hertha starts in Mainz with the quarantine handicap. Coach Dardai wants to avoid too much pressure, even if his team is on a relegation zone.
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05/03/2021 | Status: 8:04 a.m.
With a few question marks, but with a lot of confidence, Hertha BSC is trying to catch up in the Bundesliga. Game one is on Monday evening (6 p.m. / Sky) at FSV Mainz. “The boys did an exemplary job,” said coach Pal Dardai about the impressions in the first joint training sessions after the two-week domestic quarantine. “I’m very happy with the first two days, that looked okay,” emphasized the Hungarian.
THE SITUATION: The relegation-threatened Hertha should tackle the rest of the season without hectic and greater pressure, explained Darai: “We have to be smart during the game and act with a clear head.” In the 14-day isolation, Hertha slipped to relegation rank 17. In 20 days, the Berlin first division soccer team will play six games. “We can see it as an advantage. We know how the others played, what we have to do,” said defender Lukas Klünter. “We still have everything in our own hands,” emphasized Dardai.
Hertha BSC in the balancing act after quarantine
THE GOALS: Hertha has to master a balancing act. Everyone had to be careful with the Mainz team, who recently won five and two draws, “not to overdo it,” stressed Dardai. “We can’t say: If we don’t win in Mainz, then … It doesn’t matter where we get the points.” Dardai has given four points from the three catch-up games as an interim goal. Only if his team could not record these four points would the coach begin to “get negative inside”. The 45-year-old also referred to the positive mini-series of three games without defeat before the quarantine.
THE DANGERS: The players were only allowed to train together on the lawn again on Friday. After the performance in Mainz, Hertha has to play against SC Freiburg on Thursday, three days later the team will receive Arminia Bielefeld. For a long time, the professionals were only able to train individually within their four walls, the risk of injury now increases with the rapid reloading. However, Hertha could also surprise. “We come from two weeks of quarantine, we are also a big stranger to Mainz,” said sports director Arne Friedrich. “Of course it’s an important game, but not a final,” said Dardai. Four points separate the Berliners to a non-relegation place.
PERSONAL: Attacker Dodi Lukebakio and defender Marvin Plattenhardt, like Dardai himself and his assistant Admir Hamzagic, had Covid-19. Goalkeeper Rune Jarstein was hit particularly badly, he even had to go to hospital and can no longer be used this season. Lukebakio and Plattenhardt are only starting their individual build-up program this week, they too cannot play at first. But captain Dedryck Boyata is back in the squad after recovering from a muscle injury, but it’s not enough for the first team.
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