The day after the 1:3 against Cologne was all about coming to terms at Hertha BSC. Coach Tayfun Korkut has a simple recipe for reducing the ups and downs
On Monday, the professionals of Hertha BSC had to watch the decisive scenes of the 1:3 home defeat against 1. FC Köln again. Before the reserves, at least, took to the training pitch, coach Tayfun Korkut subjected his team to a “clear analysis”, as he later announced during a media round. According to the 47-year-old, the review of the defeat confirmed the impressions of the match day. Korkut said that “the final consistency, especially in the last third” was lacking, but not only there. Defensively, too, “we didn’t do things the way we wanted to do them, and we invited the opponent to create chances.
In a game in which Korkut was particularly pleased with his team’s reaction in the second half (“We felt we were closer to a 2:2 than Cologne were to a third goal”), however, it was once again apparent how fragile the mental state of the Hertha team is this season. “Goals always do something,” said Korkut, referring to the goals for 0:1 and 0:2 within two minutes, “when that happens more often, the players’ heads also work. Despite everything, we handled it well again – if you look at the second half. That’s what we take out of the game. “
The ups and downs should become fewer, more stability should take hold; that is Korkut’s slogan for the future. What gives him the confidence that his aspirations will become reality? “Work. We don’t have any alternative,” the Berlin coach stressed. “We have to stay focused, remain courageous and not let ourselves be diverted from our path. We have to make sure that we balance the development we’ve made in the last few weeks. “
Boyata and Björkan back on the training pitch
And they had to see “that we concede fewer goals. That’s a fact.” Stability would be important, especially now, with a visit to VfL Wolfsburg awaiting next Saturday, who are in even worse trouble than Hertha after six league defeats in a row. Korkut, meanwhile, does not want to describe the match as groundbreaking. “It’s the next game we want to win,” he said succinctly.
It is still unclear to what extent the personnel situation will improve. “For now, it’s important that all those who are doing well at the moment stay healthy. With the others, we’ll have to see from day to day who is ultimately ready to play,” said the coach. Captain Dedryck Boyata and winter addition Fredrik Björkan resumed training on Monday after their COVID-19 illnesses and completed an individual session. “But we are in good spirits that at least parts of the team training will be possible relatively quickly,” said Korkut. Whether the forward duo of Stevan Jovetic (calf blister) and Ishak Belfodil (COVID-19) will be available in Wolfsburg is currently a question mark.
