He will captain Hertha BSC in the inner-city clash on Saturday evening. Before the game at 1. FC Union, Niklas Stark predicts: “It’s going to be an awesome derby.”
Niklas Stark has not yet come up with an incendiary speech for the dressing room. Extra motivation is not needed ahead of the fifth Bundesliga derby against their rivals from Köpenick, who have been uninterruptedly ahead of the club from the west of the city in the table for more than a year. Hertha lost 0:1 in the first edition of the Bundesliga derby in November 2019 at then promoted Union – shortly afterwards Ante Covic was out of a job as Hertha coach. In the three games since then, the Blue and Whites have remained unbeaten (4:0, 3:1, 1:1) – and will be looking to extend that streak on Saturday night. Two-time international Stark will then wear the captain’s armband in place of the red-suspended Dedryck Boyata. On Wednesday, the former Nuremberg man spoke in a media roundtable about …
.. the atmosphere before the derby: “The mood here is good. A lot of people were on international trips, now they’re back and we’ve got a derby coming up. It’s not easy to get that into people’s heads, but we’ll definitely manage it. We know how important the game is for our fans and also for us – also because of the points, if you look at the table. That’s why we’re going with 100 per cent through the week and into Saturday. “
.. the things Hertha have to call up: “We’ve already shown quite a good compactness in the last few games. We have to stick to that. We have to play our game and play to our strengths. Then we will get points there.”
.. the issue of security after the riots at the 2019 derby: “That’s an issue to look at, even if it’s not our issue. We players are totally focused on our game. If we let up one per cent there, it’s not our game. You don’t know in advance what will happen. We can’t get distracted.”
.. the starting position: “It can be a tight, battle-intensive game because both teams give it away – not only because of the derby. Both teams come through compactness and the fight. That’s why it’s going to be an awesome derby to look forward to. “
.. Motivation: “Everyone who has heard a bit about it knows how important this game is. There’s no extra motivation needed. We know what’s at stake.”
.. Hertha’s current state: “In the beginning we didn’t have the construct that we have found a bit now. It’s a bit difficult to classify where we are. At the moment we are displaying a good compactness. Everybody knows what they have to do. Everyone is running well and fighting well. At the moment we are on a good path. We have to continue that. “
.. the increase in defensive behaviour: “Some things just take time. New players have come in. You have to adjust to each other, the distances have to fit again, the automatisms have to be adjusted. That takes time, we said that before. It’s hard to believe because it’s often said – but that’s just the way it is. Now we have found each other a bit, I think. It also feels better on the pitch. And when you have a better feeling, a few more points come out. We’re growing together a bit now. It’s a matter of continuing to work on that and consolidating that, that something is emerging.”
.. the full stadium capacity in the derby despite rising incidence figures: “To have a full stadium and the atmosphere, that’s awesome. Something’s going to burn over there. But of course you have in the back of your mind that the numbers are rapidly going up again. So it’s a bit strange. But it’s not our decision whether the stadium is full or empty. We have to focus on our job. “
.. his contract expiring in the summer and the open future: “We are in derby week and in an important phase of the season. No thought goes anywhere else. That’s why there’s nothing to say there. Now it’s full focus on the derby and the games after that – and then we’ll see how the talks go. “
