Teams | September 2, 2013 at 11:42 AM
Carry on in Wolfsburg
Carry on in Wolfsburg
On Saturday (31.08.13), Hertha BSC face a short trip to Wolfsburg.
Berlin - On Saturday (31.08.13, 15.30 CET), Hertha boss Jos Luhukay and his men face only a one hour train ride to Wolfsburg, where they take on VfL Wolfsburg at the Volkswagen-Arena on Bundesliga matchday 4. After Hertha made a „historically“ good start to their league campaign after winning promotion as Bundesliga 2 champions, Wolfsburg have not had it quite so good, with two away defeats but also an emphatic 4-0 home win over Schalke to their name so far.
Both teams showed each other a lot of respect ahead of their clash.
Hertha coach Luhukay announced before the game that Johannes van den Bergh, Marcel Ndjeng, Pierre-Michel Lasogga and Hany Mukhtar are still unavailable for selection. The Dutchman expects a tough task on Saturday. Luhukay: „Wolfsburg have a very good team with a high level of quality in all departments. They have a healthy mixture of youth and experience. Wolfsburg can reach the upper echelons of the Bundesliga table this season. We will need an incredible performance to take anything from the game“
Luhukay: "We want to try to play our game in Wolfsburg"
The 50 year old Hertha supremo is not travelling to Wolfsburg just to play for a draw. He told the press at a pre-match press conference this week: „We will not be passive or too defensive. In Nürnberg we tried to attack whenever possible, keeping things moving up front. We want to try to play our game in Wolfsburg, put them under pressure and create chances.“ He went on to say that he believes that the „Wolves“ are his side's toughest test so far this season with regard to the quality of their team.
Of course Luhukay has to put his own house in order before considering what the opposition might or might not do. He knows the strengths and weaknesses of Saturday's opponent and will act accordingly on the tactical front. As we said, the Berliners plan to try to play their own game at the VW-Arena, and apart from the above-named quartet of injured men, Luhukay has the rest of his squad to choose from. He hinted that former captain Peter Niemeyer could start the game after replacing John Anthony Brooks after only 25 minutes last weekend. Because he has so many players at his disposal, Ben Sahar, Fabian Holland, Christoph Janker, Roman Hubnik and Philip Sprint will all turn out for the reserves in the Regionalliga on Saturday.
Hecking: "We respect Hertha"
Wolfsburg boss Dieter Hecking was also in confident mood ahead of the much-anticipated matchday 4 clash. He told the media this week: „We have every chance of winning our second home game of the season on Saturday.“ The 48 year old former Hannover 96 coach sees Hertha's strengths up front. Hecking: „We cannot afford to give Sami Allagui, Adrian Ramos, Änis Ben-Hatira and Alexander Baumjohann too much operating room. We respect Hertha, but if we can replicate the dominance we showed against Schalke, we are certainly capable of taking maximum points on Saturday." The Wolves boss would not be drawn on who would replace his „mega summer signing“ from Bayern Munich Luiz Gustavo, who was sent off last time out.“ Hecking: „I have yet to decide. I have plenty of options in the squad.“
"I wanted to help the team but I can't“, moaned Luiz Gustavo on receiving his ban. Wolfsburg's Brazilian playmaker Diego is not unduly worried about his side's erratic form so far this season. He reckons: „We shouldn't change our mentality because we are on the right track. We did a lot of good things in our three games up to now, now we want to take more points from our next home game against Hertha.“ Diego's former HSV and Bayern striker team mate Ivica Olic said this week: „We want to find our rhythm and start a positive run.“
Possible line-ups:
VfL Wolfsburg: Benaglio - Träsch, Naldo, Klose/Knoche, Rodriguez - Koo, Hasebe/Polak - Perisic, Diego, Vieirinha – Olic
Hertha BSC: Kraft - Pekarik, Langkamp, Brooks, Schulz - Lustenberger, Hosogai - Allagui, Baumjohann, Ben-Hatira - Ramos
Both teams showed each other a lot of respect ahead of their clash.
Hertha coach Luhukay announced before the game that Johannes van den Bergh, Marcel Ndjeng, Pierre-Michel Lasogga and Hany Mukhtar are still unavailable for selection. The Dutchman expects a tough task on Saturday. Luhukay: „Wolfsburg have a very good team with a high level of quality in all departments. They have a healthy mixture of youth and experience. Wolfsburg can reach the upper echelons of the Bundesliga table this season. We will need an incredible performance to take anything from the game“
Luhukay: "We want to try to play our game in Wolfsburg"
The 50 year old Hertha supremo is not travelling to Wolfsburg just to play for a draw. He told the press at a pre-match press conference this week: „We will not be passive or too defensive. In Nürnberg we tried to attack whenever possible, keeping things moving up front. We want to try to play our game in Wolfsburg, put them under pressure and create chances.“ He went on to say that he believes that the „Wolves“ are his side's toughest test so far this season with regard to the quality of their team.
Of course Luhukay has to put his own house in order before considering what the opposition might or might not do. He knows the strengths and weaknesses of Saturday's opponent and will act accordingly on the tactical front. As we said, the Berliners plan to try to play their own game at the VW-Arena, and apart from the above-named quartet of injured men, Luhukay has the rest of his squad to choose from. He hinted that former captain Peter Niemeyer could start the game after replacing John Anthony Brooks after only 25 minutes last weekend. Because he has so many players at his disposal, Ben Sahar, Fabian Holland, Christoph Janker, Roman Hubnik and Philip Sprint will all turn out for the reserves in the Regionalliga on Saturday.
Hecking: "We respect Hertha"
Wolfsburg boss Dieter Hecking was also in confident mood ahead of the much-anticipated matchday 4 clash. He told the media this week: „We have every chance of winning our second home game of the season on Saturday.“ The 48 year old former Hannover 96 coach sees Hertha's strengths up front. Hecking: „We cannot afford to give Sami Allagui, Adrian Ramos, Änis Ben-Hatira and Alexander Baumjohann too much operating room. We respect Hertha, but if we can replicate the dominance we showed against Schalke, we are certainly capable of taking maximum points on Saturday." The Wolves boss would not be drawn on who would replace his „mega summer signing“ from Bayern Munich Luiz Gustavo, who was sent off last time out.“ Hecking: „I have yet to decide. I have plenty of options in the squad.“
"I wanted to help the team but I can't“, moaned Luiz Gustavo on receiving his ban. Wolfsburg's Brazilian playmaker Diego is not unduly worried about his side's erratic form so far this season. He reckons: „We shouldn't change our mentality because we are on the right track. We did a lot of good things in our three games up to now, now we want to take more points from our next home game against Hertha.“ Diego's former HSV and Bayern striker team mate Ivica Olic said this week: „We want to find our rhythm and start a positive run.“
Possible line-ups:
VfL Wolfsburg: Benaglio - Träsch, Naldo, Klose/Knoche, Rodriguez - Koo, Hasebe/Polak - Perisic, Diego, Vieirinha – Olic
Hertha BSC: Kraft - Pekarik, Langkamp, Brooks, Schulz - Lustenberger, Hosogai - Allagui, Baumjohann, Ben-Hatira - Ramos