In the 1:6 against Leipzig, Hertha BSC played a good game for a long time – but after a sending-off for Marc Oliver Kempf, the break followed. Nevertheless, manager Fredi Bobic came to the defence of coach Tayfun Korkut afterwards.
In the end, Hertha BSC surrendered to its fate. There was no more resistance, no more fighting back, no more now-first-right after Leipzig had scored the 2-1 goal from eleven metres by Christopher Nkunku (64th).
The Berliners now let RB have their way and conceded four more goals in the last half hour of the game (67th, 74th, 81st, 88th).
However, part of the truth was that in view of Leipzig’s class, it was no less than a mammoth task for Hertha when Marc Oliver Kempf was shown red for an emergency foul on Nkunku (62nd).
“That we are brutally disappointed is clear,” said Fredi Bobic on the DAZN microphone after the game and then called the result “madness”. Hertha’s manager had seen “two different games” – “until the 2:1 and after the 2:1”.
In fact, the Berliners had kept the duel completely open for an hour. Even more: They could have equalised the 0:1 by Benjamin Henrichs (20th) before the break (23rd, 44th), and when Stevan Jovetic managed the 1:1 (48th), Hertha even came close to the lead, but the scorer missed two more good opportunities (50th, 54th).
Bobic: “We’re not complaining “
In view of the personnel situation, it was quite remarkable how bravely the Berliners fought – after all, they had to report six more Corona cases before the game. “There’s no normal training rhythm,” said Bobic, “but we’re not complaining.”
A laudable attitude, but Hertha’s steadfastness did not lead to success. The 1:6 against Leipzig was the seventh competitive match this year – and the seventh without a win. Bobic’s confidence in coach Tayfun Korkut is nevertheless unbroken. He emphasised this on Sunday evening. Asked how he perceives the coach on a day-to-day basis, Hertha’s manager said: “Very clear, in the right tone with the boys immediately. He does it the way you would imagine in this situation: zero actionism, but a very clear plan. “
Against Leipzig, this plan worked, but only until minute 62, when Kempf pulled the emergency brake on Nkunku down on the pitch – and up in the stands, Bobic suddenly saw a different game.
