In an arena that is only occupied sporadically like the Berlin Olympic Stadium, sometimes every word can be understood. What is coming out of the mouths of some Hertha BSC fans these days may not be nice for sensitive ears. “Pull yourself together” was another of the friendlier prompts echoed from the stands towards the players. Some chose much heartier words, during the 4-1 defeat against FC Bayern, the 3,000 or so spectators accompanied their team’s game with sometimes mocking chants.
That wasn’t the only atmospheric disturbance that took place this weekend between the Hertha BSC soccer players and their supporters. On Saturday, around 80 representatives from the active fan scene stormed the final training session. There were sometimes heated arguments with the players, according to a report by the “Sportbuzzer” portal, the spokesman for the team even threatened.
“I think the message got through: pull yourself together now, otherwise we’ll ignite the next stage,” he is said to have said. Hertha’s officials later confirmed the incident. “We can understand the frustration of the fans. But not that way,” said sports director Arne Friedrich to the broadcaster DAZN.
Ball in goal after two minutes
Coach Tayfun Korkut tried not to pay too much attention to what was happening. “It only disrupted the training operations. Emotionality is part of delivering messages. The way, there are better ones,” said Korkut. His team was still focused in the game. There was little to be seen. After the cup loss against city rivals Union (2:3), the team had no chance against leaders Bayern Munich, as expected, the next sporting crisis is imminent. Or is it still the old one, which has lasted for half a year now? You don’t really know that in western Berlin.
After just two minutes, the ball was in the Hertha goal for the first time. Lucky for the Berliners that the goal was disallowed because the shooter Corentin Tolisso was offside. But that didn’t change the fact that Bayern constantly occupied the Berlin penalty area. Thomas Müller and Kingsley Coman had the best chances, but Tolisso scored the first goal. The Frenchman headed a cross from his compatriot Coman over the line (25′). This time it was the goal that counted.
Tolisso interpreted his role in midfield very offensively, repeatedly pushing far forward to support Leroy Sané and Thomas Müller, who played as double ten behind Robert Lewandowski. Hertha only sporadically had something to oppose against the concentrated Munich attacking power. From time to time, Bayern allowed a few chances that Hertha, in the person of Myziane Maolida, Ishak Belfodil or Vladimir Darida, were unable to take advantage of. Bayern scored more goals through Müller, Sané and Serge Gnabry, the consolation goal from substitute Jurgen Ekkelenkamp was nothing more than a gift from Dayot Upamecano, who favored the goal with a back pass to goalkeeper Manuel Neuer that was far too short.
The otherwise sovereign goalkeeper Alexander Schwolow showed how deep the uncertainty in the Berliners is now, contrary to Korkut’s words. Sané simply intercepted his cross pass in the direction of 17-year-old Linus Gechter before the 0: 3 and shot it into the empty goal. Ultimately, Hertha not only lost the city derby against Union this year, but also three out of four matches in the Bundesliga.
