Hertha at the crossroads: Magath hacks and Bobic warns

Created: 2022-05-24Updated: 2022-05-24 15:08

Fredi Bobic.

© Tom Weller/dpa/archive image

The sporting rescue was successful.

But that was only the first step for Hertha BSC.

Managing director Fredi Bobic fears new chaos at the Big City Club this week and appeals to fans and investor Windhorst not to torpedo his management course.

Berlin – Felix Magath will be chopping wood in the future.

Kevin-Prince Boateng just wants to get on the couch for now.

Hertha's rescuer heroes are now treating themselves to their private pleasures.

Only Fredi Bobic has to really get going after staying up in the relegation thriller against Hamburger SV at the Berlin Bundesliga club.

And an end to the Big City drama is far from in sight.

With the confusion surrounding President Werner Gegenbauer's allegedly fixed resignation, Hertha again caused a considerable controversy on Tuesday immediately after returning to the capital.

Bobic sat down on the podium as a great admonisher and the last remaining doer and in emphatic words set out the course he wanted for the coming weeks: "Now is the time and the last sign for everyone, not only in the club but also in the environment to understand what it means to go through difficult times.

This relegation was the last chance," said Bobic.

Otherwise things could get tight again with staying up and possibly even face a fate like HSV, who have to compete in the second division for the fifth round.

The managing director is very concerned that Hertha could fall into a power vacuum and ultimately into leadership chaos at the general meeting on Sunday due to a fan revolt or excessive demands or even provocations from million-dollar investor Lars Windhorst.

"Everyone has to commit now," demanded Bobic.

And meant an unrestricted commitment to the club in his sense.

Bobic certainly does not believe that Gegenbauer is still Hertha boss beyond the meeting, despite all denials about an allegedly fixed resignation on Tuesday.

The time of the patron who brought Bobic back to Berlin has expired at Hertha.

As for CFO Ingo Schiller, who only stays until October.

Until there is a new president, Bobic, as the only remaining decision-maker, has to set the course.

“It is important that people know what is important.

We have to remain able to act, we need continuity," warned the manager.

No one needs populism, the club's duty of care is the order of the day, otherwise the considerable increase in performance in the 2-0 win in Hamburg, which made the rescue possible, would be in vain.

Bobic has prepared.

He quickly wants to present a new trainer for Magath, who said goodbye to his next rescue coup and started doing gardening with an axe.

“I am very, very far with the talks.

It will certainly be the case that we will be able to present a new coach in the next few days," said Bobic.

Former Mainz coach Sandro Schwarz, who currently works at Dynamo Moscow, is the favourite.

Bobic expects a more attractive style of play from the new coach.

“What he has to bring with him is clear.

Personality and fire for Hertha,” said the managing director.

"I want to see aggressive football, forward, not backward.

Our football was characterized by passivity,” complained the 50-year-old.

As a grumbler, Bobic had already attracted attention on the party night in Hamburg.

"Horrible music," he ground between his teeth as he came out of the cabin.

And anyway, what is there to celebrate?

Hertha BSC hadn't won a title or a trophy, but only survived the relegation with great difficulty.

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While Magath said goodbye to the Bundesliga stage as the big winner with a lavish fee and the good feeling of remaining an expert in rescue operations until the next mission, wherever he went, the real work began for 50-year-old Bobic in Berlin.

Hertha has to get into calm waters.

"It takes too long when we talk about all the things we did wrong," said veteran Boateng, who would like to play for Hertha for another year after the holiday.

With his appearance as a quasi-assistant coach, suitable for creating a legend, who allegedly revealed the winning line-up to Magath, he staged himself well.

Bobic smiled and put things into perspective: "Disempower Felix Magath?

I can not imagine that."

In fundamental matters, the recently tight-lipped manager Bobic did not want to be infected by the sudden Berlin euphoria.

Publicly puffed cigars, as was the case with ex-coach Pal Dardai at the last relegation party a year ago, did not exist this time.

Bobic must calculate exactly in the coming weeks.

"It's not about saving dead, that's not in my interest," he said.

Nevertheless, a transfer surplus is needed.

Complicated times remain for Bobic and Hertha.

dpa