The capital duel between 1. FC Union and Hertha BSC is drawing ever closer, but derby fever has probably not – yet – broken out among the team of the Eisernen. “It’s not like we’re already spurring ourselves on in the dressing room today because it’s against Hertha at the weekend,” Grischa Prömel said on Tuesday. But that could change in time.
“We are still at the beginning of the week, we are still missing some players. Tomorrow, when the internationals come back, we will be looking at Hertha with full focus,” Prömel said in a media round four days before the home match at the Alte Försterei against the city rivals.
Union’s midfielder described Hertha as a “team with high individual quality”, but also recommended not to focus so much on the opponent. “We have to look at ourselves, that we get our game on the pitch, that Hertha have to adapt to us and not us to them,” Prömel said, explaining, “We do quite well if we get our strengths on the pitch and make the game difficult for Hertha. “
Of the four Bundesliga encounters with Hertha so far, Union have only won one – the first derby in the top flight, two years ago, 1-0 (winner: Sebastian Polter). Hertha won two of the following three games at the Olympiastadion (4:0 and 3:1). The last result was a 1-1 draw in Köpenick in April this year. With a success at the Alte Försterei, which may be filled for the first time since March 2020, Union would even the score. In (at least) one respect, however, the Eisernen are clearly ahead of Hertha anyway: since promotion in 2019, FCU have picked up 108 points, 19 more than their local rivals in that period. However, Prömel does not want to talk about a changing of the guard.
Prömel and the “funny story “
“We don’t look at who is number 1 in Berlin. We do our thing. We’re happy when we win our games. And if we’re ahead of Hertha at the end of the season, then maybe we’re a little bit happier. It’s a funny story for the fan scene and the whole club if we’re in front at the end of the season,” said the 26-year-old, whose contract expires in the summer and who can hardly imagine ever playing for the city rivals.
“I became a Bundesliga player at Union, I’ve experienced a promotion, I’ve been playing here in the Bundesliga for three years, I’ve probably had my best time here in terms of sport. That’s why there’s such a strong bond. It’s hard to imagine playing for the other colours in Berlin. My heart in Berlin lies with Union,” said Prömel, adding: “I think there are many in the team who tick in a similar way. Union is a club that you identify with, that stands for certain values, which you then automatically represent when you play for Union. “
