Hertha BSC cannot free themselves from the Bundesliga table basement and also loses to Mainz. After only one win from the last six competitive games, the situation is sad for the Berliners.
Berlin (dpa) - The otherwise typical smile had disappeared from Jürgen Klinsmann's face.
The coach of Hertha BSC looked serious and thoughtful after the next damper in the relegation battle of the Bundesliga, he ordered his professionals two days off that he urgently needed. "The boys should clear their heads, go out a little with their wives and digest that," he said. The former national coach canceled the training scheduled for Sunday. The Berliners don't meet again until Tuesday.
The despondent 1: 3 (0: 1) of the capital city club against FSV Mainz 05 on Saturday was a relapse into times long believed to be overcome. Despite investments of around 80 million euros in the winter break, the reality of Hertha slipping to 14th place is still only the struggle for relegation, the dream of the "Big City Club" is far away. "For us it is disappointing, but also understandable somewhere," said Klinsmann after the bankruptcy and quickly found an explanation: "It was a very intensive week. It was all a bit much, but should not be an excuse."
The 120 minutes in the round of 16 of the DFB Cup at FC Schalke 04 (2: 3 nV) on Tuesday and the subsequent discussions about the racism allegations by Hertha professional Jordan Torunarigha caused unrest around the team. Fans and teammates showed solidarity on Saturday in the stadium with Torunarigha, who according to his own statement had been racially insulted at Schalke. "It is important to stand together in these situations. This is an important message to the player," said manager Michael Preetz.
Hardly anything came together playfully. While there were still good approaches and a combination game in the cup, including an interim 2-0 lead, there was nothing to be seen against the aggressive Mainz. "We are all very disappointed, we didn't really have many ideas," said Maximilian Mittelstädt. Hertha's only goal in the past four home games was then an own goal by Mainz's Jeffrey Bruma (84th minute). His colleague Robin Quaison made everything clear for the Rheinhessen with a three-pack (17th / 81st and 90th + 4 / penalty) and gave his team the first victory in 2020. For Berlin, on the other hand, there have been only one in the past five Bundesliga games meager success.
Above all, Hertha has to get to grips with the weakness of the offensive very quickly, because Preetz has long proclaimed the "weeks of truth". The start against Mainz failed, at SC Paderborn next Sunday as well as against Cologne, Dusseldorf and Bremen alone against four other direct competitors next month. Hertha is still six points ahead of the relegation zone, but this weekend the opponents were already collecting points.
"The focus is on the tasks ahead to straighten the thing out again," said Mittelstädt. It is important to "keep your head up". There is great hope that this will succeed. However, it is noticeable that both the necessary self-confidence and the right plan are missing on the lawn. Also bitter: In Paderborn Klinsmann has to do without Marius Wolf, who saw the yellow-red card at the end in front of the season's minus crowd of 35 049 spectators.
Hertha BSC
Squad Hertha BSC
Schedule Hertha BSC
Squad Mainz 05
Information about the encounter at bundesliga.de