The turf is battered, the captain is missing through suspension, but a look at the recent past nourishes hope: Hertha BSC not only want to annoy Bayer Leverkusen on Sunday, they want to screw them.
“We know what they can do. And they know what we can do”, Hertha coach Pal Dardai said in the matchday press conference on Friday. The upcoming opponent has “many good, fast players”, the Hungarian said. “If they have spaces to switch, it will be difficult.”
Hertha’s strong recent record against Bayer
Remaining as compact as in the last home match against Borussia Mönchengladbach (1:0)and playing even better with the ball – that is Hertha’s goal against an opponent who has recently suited the Berliners. Hertha have not conceded a goal in their four most recent encounters with Bayer Leverkusen. In view of the Werkself’s individual class, which is mainly based in the offensive, this is an outstanding record that encourages Hertha for the match on Sunday. “Many people like to watch this team play football, including me,” emphasised Hertha’s sporting director Fredi Bobic. “They have a lot of pace and many really good footballers. But I know they are beatable.”
Dardai: ” … then we can beat them all “
Dardai, fully satisfied with the training week (“So far, everything is going according to plan.”), referred as so often to the form of the day: “At Hertha BSC, the form of the day is important and that the players stay healthy throughout the training week. Daily form, fitness, concentration – then we can beat everyone.”
In the game a week ago at TSG Hoffenheim (0:2) several professionals did not have the necessary daily form, most notably indisposed right-back Deyovaisio Zeefuik and defender Dedryck Boyata. Zeefuik is likely to find himself on the bench against Leverkusen, while captain Boyata was banned for three games by the DFB Sports Court after his red card in Sinsheim. His club decided not to appeal the decision. “We grudgingly accepted it,” said Bobic. “You always have to weigh up the chances of success.” The Belgian international is to be replaced in the team by Marton Dardai in central defence, while Marvin Plattenhardt, who like Dardai was absent at short notice against Hoffenheim due to muscular complaints, is to start on the left side of defence. This will free up the veteran Peter Pekarik, who was called up on the left in Sinsheim, for his usual right side – and should replace Zeefuik.
Dardai: “For me it is a very important game “
Coach Dardai left no doubt on Friday about the importance of the encounter after a very changeable season so far: “For me it is a very important game. If we manage something nice, we have good cards until Christmas. “
In the upcoming international break, the badly battered turf of the Olympiastadion will be replaced. On Thursday evening, local rivals Union played their Conference League match against Feyenoord Rotterdam (1:2) in continuous rain on the increasingly deep turf. After the game, Union midfielder Rani Khedira had spoken of a “shitty pitch”. Bobic sounded quite relaxed on the subject on Friday: “We weren’t in the stadium yet, but you could see it on TV. The pitch will already be playable – probably like it was when Pal and I were still kicking. It’ll be fine.” The Olympiastadion GmbH, as the operating company, announced on Friday: “We are working at full speed to ensure that Sunday’s match between Hertha BSC and Bayer Leverkusen can be played properly.” Hertha will then play their first home game on the new surface on 27 November against FC Augsburg.
