Hertha BSC’s nerves are on edge after the next ignominious performance. The Ultras order the team to remove their jerseys because they are not worthy of them. Managing director Bobic says he kept his shirt on.
Dhe players stood like beaten dogs in front of the fans. After the 1: 4 in the capital derby against Union Berlin, the professionals from Hertha BSC had to endure insults. The Ultras ordered the team to report after the lifeless and listless performance. Supporters even went so far as to ask the players to take off their jerseys, saying they were no longer worthy of wearing blue and white. Many players complied with the humiliation. It was the absolute low point of an evening that was teeming with low points for Hertha BSC.
The division between the fans, who are said to love their club so much but take themselves far too seriously, and the team fits into the picture that Hertha is giving this season. Felix Magath’s team was hopelessly inferior to Union. The team accepted the third derby defeat this season without complaint and appeared as if they had been relegated. Hertha remains in relegation place 17, there is little that gives hope for improvement.
Peter Pekarik (right) took off his jersey in front of Hertha’s fans. The supporters demanded this from the players
Source: dpa/Sören Stache
The 1:4 was the second defeat in the third game directed by Magath. The 68-year-old, who had been hired as a rescuer for eight games, looked at a loss the day after the bankruptcy. “How do I get the players to work together on the pitch, defend themselves together, fight together?” Magath told the Bild television station. “Of course it will be difficult for us the way we played yesterday.” Even if you played against a very good Union team.
Commitment in training, fear in the game
At Hertha, a team has developed over a long period of time, “but it’s not a team,” said Magath. That’s why it gives the fans the impression that the players didn’t want to. The commitment of the pros is fully there in training. “That also shows that the players want to defend themselves, but they can’t do it,” said the coach.
Felix Magath went down with his Hertha in the derby
Source: dpa/Sören Stache
For the humiliating action of the fans, Magath said: “That’s unfortunate.” But he also expressed understanding. At the beginning of the game he was enthusiastic about the support. “The problem is that we don’t understand how to implement this support from the fans on the pitch through commitment. We will only make it if we all stick together in this situation, if we all work together.”
“It’s no fun for any of us”
A lot of work awaits the coach in the coming weeks. The upcoming opponents are all in the relegation battle, next weekend Hertha will play in Augsburg, then the team will welcome Stuttgart before going to Bielefeld. “We still have every chance because we all still play against the clubs that are in our table region,” said Magath.
Since they were allowed to wear their jerseys – the Herthaners after the defeat on the way to the fan curve
Source: dpa/Sören Stache
It is questionable whether the fans will support the team again. Likewise, whether the players are ready to give their all for the supporters after Saturday night’s humiliation. “I understand the frustration that we are losing the derby and have now lost three times in a row. It’s no fun for any of us. But we are also athletes. It has nothing to do with confrontation,” said Hertha’s managing director Fredi Bobic after the game.
With a little distance, Bobic followed up on Sunday in a one-two at “Sport1”. “Ask the boys to give up their jersey and they’re not worth wearing this jersey: It crosses a line that I don’t think is okay,” said Bobic.
This is a difficult situation, especially for young players like Linus Gechter (18) and Marcel Lotka (20). “It does something to you, and definitely nothing positive,” said the 50-year-old. He himself would not have taken off the jersey, Bobic had said. But he could not condemn any of the players who followed the request, he added on the show.
