Hertha BSC is sleepwalking toward relegation. And in this respect it was probably the accurate choice of words that Arne Friedrich, the sports director of the Berlin Bundesliga club, chose when he started a very clear, verbal wake-up call.
“We finally have to get our ass off, you have to say that very clearly,” said the former international. At the time he said that, he could or could still have hope that Hertha would turn their home game against SG Eintracht Frankfurt. It was half-time, the guests were not exactly in the lead (1-0), but ten minutes after the restart every illusion was shattered: Eintracht first increased to 2-0 (48th), then to 3-0 (56th). Oh yes, there was still a short moment of enthusiasm: Davie Selke scored, which was surprising enough, with a volley to make it 1:3 (61st), which was also beautiful to look at. Brand goal of the month.
But that was completely irrelevant in the end. Because barely 120 seconds later, Eintracht had made it 4-1. After three winless and goalless games in a row, Frankfurt scored their first three. “Winning 4-1 in Berlin is a great story,” said Eintracht coach Oliver Glasner. Hertha on the other hand? Remains without a win in the current calendar year. And it’s not just the worst second half team by numbers. She plays like that too.
“I don’t know if some didn’t understand that we’re in a relegation battle,” says Hertha’s winter signing Kempf
There was almost nothing the Berliners could hold on to on Saturday, and that was quite a difference to the last home debacle, the 6-1 loss to RB Leipzig just two weeks ago. Here and there there was one or the other degree, but not even Eintracht goalkeeper Kevin Trapp’s hairstyle was ever in serious danger. And even if the bare result suggests something else: Eintracht was clearly better, but not outstanding. That was enough against a Hertha that has all the symptoms of a team that is in so-called free fall. In full team strength, at least. On Saturday, coach Tayfun Korkut was able to draw on almost the entire squad for the first time since he began his tenure in November 2021. Even Kevin-Prince Boateng was fit enough to play a good half hour.
The hairstyle fits, the result is right: Frankfurt goalkeeper Kevin Trapp has had a successful day at work.
(Photo: O.Behrendt/Contrast/Image)
Korkut had repeatedly said that the first thing to do was to do the simple things well, to call up the so-called basics. But that failed in such a comprehensive way that winter signing Marc Kempf made remarkably clear statements about the notary of failure. “I don’t know if some didn’t understand that we’re in a relegation battle,” said Kempf. And didn’t get along at all.
“I didn’t like the first half at all because we were just extras,” he said, vehemently rejecting any debate about right and wrong tactics. “What does tactic mean? Any tactic in the world doesn’t give a fuck if you don’t have the (right) attitude, if you don’t run, if you don’t do, if you don’t do.” He dressed his disappointment at the fact that he has been in Berlin since January and still hasn’t tasted a win in a sentence of outstanding beauty. “It pisses me off too much.”
It has been a long time since the colleagues last won, which he believes should have an impact on the mood. Or would it have to be: “Everyone has to be pissed off enough and just kick their ass off,” i.e., “not just walk around Larifari and get four-one shot down.” The goals for Eintracht, only marginally, came from Ansgar Knauff (17th minute), Tuta (48th), Jesper Lindström (56th) and Rafael Borré (63rd). They had devastating consequences for Hertha: since the penultimate VfB Stuttgart won 3-2 against Borussia Mönchengladbach late on Saturday evening, Hertha was not even able to consolidate the relegation place. The lead of the club, which has been nurtured by investor Lars Windhorst since 2019 with 374 million euros, over the Swabians melted down to a single point.
“I’m still convinced, not only of my work, but also of the team,” says Hertha coach Korkut
In view of the overall situation, there was an open withdrawal of love in the stands of the Olympic Stadium. Ironically, in the east curve of the Olympic Stadium, where Hertha’s most loyal fans are, a chorus swelled that had to be hurtful: “Oh, how nice…” sang the Berlin fans while the game against Eintracht was still going on . It didn’t stop at malice. On the one hand, because the Hertha players were greeted with cups of drinks when they hesitantly approached the curve after work. On the other hand, because there were also “Korkut-Raus” calls.
In fact, the coach is running out of arguments. His analyzes are generally based on objectivity; the fact that he confessed on Saturday that he was “zero point zero satisfied”, “disappointed” and “angry” was already a verbal outburst for his style. So far he has only collected nine points in twelve games, but above all the performance against Eintracht was a playful step backwards of breathtaking length.
When asked if he saw himself capable of getting the curve with Hertha, Korkut answered with great clarity: “I’m still convinced, not only of my work, but also of the team,” he said. The most recent unequivocal backing from manager Fredi Bobic was last Sunday. On Saturday, Bobic avoided the microphones of the TV stations. What that means remains to be seen.
