After the highlight of his football career so far, Nader El-Jindaoui held his daughter Imani in his arms as he strolled happily across the lawn of the Olympic Stadium. “I still haven’t realized it. I need a few hours first, maybe a night. That’s incredible. I’ve fought for it all my life,” said the Hertha BSC debutant after the victory in the round of 16 of the DFB Cup against Hamburger SV (5:3 iE).
At the age of 27, the offensive player, who is a star with millions of followers on the Internet, made his professional debut for Hertha. “At the end of the day it was football. I’ve been playing football all my life. Even if some people like to say that I am an influencer. But I’m a footballer – and I share a little bit of my life,” said El-Jindaoui: “But if you google me, it says footballer. And that’s how I feel too.”
El-Jindaoui came to Hertha from Berliner AK in the summer of the previous year and was initially intended for the second team in the Northeast Regional League. There he has scored two goals and three assists in 13 appearances so far this season. El-Jindaoui became known, among other things, for videos on the YouTube platform, where 1.75 million people have subscribed to his channel. He has two million followers on Instagram and 2.6 million followers on TikTok.
Dardai praises El-Jindaoui
Against HSV, El-Jindaoui came on as a substitute in the 80th minute, initiated the 3-3 through Jonjoe Kenny in the 120th minute and scored safely from the spot in the penalty shootout. “First I wanted to see who was shooting and who wanted to shoot. And then not everyone wanted to. And then I said, ‘Why not? I shoot.’ In the end it’s just football. Of course it’s higher pressure, but in the end it’s just football,” he said.
Last Sunday, the Berlin native was in the league squad for the first time in the 5-1 win against SV Elversberg and sat on the bench for 90 minutes. He has been training with the professionals for six weeks and is benefiting from some injuries in Hertha’s offensive, although El-Jindaoui wants to continue to show his worth even after their return: “I’m not finished yet. I want to step on the gas and help the team.”
Hertha coach Pal Dardai was particularly impressed by El-Jindaoui’s courage in the penalty shootout. “Hands up whoever says he doesn’t have any balls. He just drove the ball in. That was great. Respect for that,” said the Hungarian, who further praised the fast dribbler: “When he trains with us, he trains for his life. He gives commitment. I honored that.” While Dardai stated that he would like to continue working with El-Jindaoui, he also pointed out that he should not “take the place away from a young player”.
At Hamburger SV there was great disillusionment after the dramatic cup exit. “I can not explain this. That simply shouldn’t happen to a top team,” said midfielder Jonas Meffert after the 3:5 penalty shootout. “I don’t know how we didn’t manage to win here.” Hamburg looked like the sure winner twice, and Hertha equalized late on twice. “It hurts a lot,” said the 29-year-old.
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Coach Tim Walter was more pragmatic. “We weren’t as consistent in a situation as we were half an hour before. Then that’s what happens,” said the 48-year-old about Jonjoe Kenny’s 3-3 draw. “In penalty shootouts, football is a vabanque game. We had to experience that today.” But the way his team played gave him courage, he said. “But we have to reward ourselves more.” The third-place team in the second division can now concentrate on the fight for promotion. On Saturday, HSV welcomes SC Paderborn (1 p.m. in the FAZ live ticker for the second division and on Sky).
