KICK OFF!

Berlin - Every football club has its legend. Without doubt Hertha BSC's is Andreas "Zecke" Neuendorf. He has blue and white blood coursing through his veins. He has been at Hertha for 15 years, making 278 appearances, scoring 28 goals in the process. Everyone knows he has his heart in the right place and is a true "Berliner" if ever there was one. This season "Zecke has become a "football pensioner" working within the club since hanging up his boots last term. He is still very opinionated and will tell us all how he sees his beloved Hertha's games going before each matchday in the 2014/15 season. No doubt he will play with his cards on the table. He will be honest, open and probably sometimes a little tongue in cheek - typical "Zecke"! So what does that mean for opponents? Watch out! "Zecke" will pull no punches and take no prisoners as he tells it as it is... Read here his thoughts ahead of round 2 of the DFB Cup.

DFB Cup. Hertha’s dream of playing in a cup final in their own stadium – the Olympic stadium in Berlin. As I used to play it was my main goal – not to win the Bzundesliga or play Championns League football, no. I always wanted to fight for that cup at the Olympic stadium, but sadly never did. There are only seven matches involved, but they are seven games with their own way of doing things, unlike in the Bundesliga. As a Bundesliga team playing a so-called lesser opponent you are always the pre-match favourite, but in truth their are no more cup “minnows” anymore

In earlier years there were teams who only trained two to three times per week. Nowadays all teams train at a professional level, which means that there are around 150 teams who are physically able to go 90 or indeed 120 minutes against you. The so-called lesser sides are always more than keen to put one over on their more illustrious opponents, to trip them up. In such games the outsiders often manage to win more tackles that they wouldn’t usually win and they can score goals that they wouldn’t usually score and are prepared to run as if their very lives depended on it.

Anythingt less than progression to the next round is seen as a disgrace. You can only lose. If you work hard the quality of your squad will see you through in the end. Hertha face Armenia Bielefeld away in round 2. Arminia are currently top of division three and have played well so far this year, but Hertha have shown this season that they are able to get their teeth into a game like against Wolfsburg and Stuttgart. I expect such a game and not one like last time out as we outshone HSV. If we fight hard, our quality will shine through.

That we we come a step closer to our dream. The cup is hard work and we mustn’t forget that. If we can reach the next round and in doing so, continue our recent positive development a lot can happen this season. I believe in the lads! Come on! Ha Ho He!"