Internationals return!
Internationals return!
The training ground is busy once again! After an intense training camp in Bad Saarow last week as well as successful friendly wins against Erfurt and Jena, Pál Dárdai’s men have been pressing on with their pre-season training. Hertha’s internationals are now back, with Marvin Plattenhardt and Mitchell Weiser joining the team in training straight away, whilst new signing Davie Selke has been undertaking an individual programme for now. The same goes for Sebastian Langkamp, who has had some issues with his groin. Niklas Stark is still nursing a rib fracture and Dennis Smarsch remains on the sidelines.
Michael Preetz and Pál Dárdai had warm words to welcome back their four DFB champions in this morning’s training session. “We are very proud that four such talented players were successful with the Germany national teams,” said Preetz. “To have these guys in our team highlights the work we have been doing recently. For us we were always going to make sure we gave these four a proper welcome on their first day back at work after their holidays.”
Davie Selke missed the U21 Euro final due to injury but worked hard to recover from it during his holidays and is now excited to get back to work with the team once he is finished with his individual training programme. “We will now see how my body reacts. It feels very positive right now. I am hoping that the medical department will give me the go-ahead soon to get back into training,” the striker said. He and the Germany U21 team’s triumph in Poland has given the 22-year-old an additional confidence boost. “That obviously is natural after winning a title, so I am really pleased to now be getting started at Hertha and to doing my bit so that we can also be successful in the upcoming season.”
Weiser, friend of Davie Selke and the scorer of the winning goal at the European Championship, cannot wait to get playing with Hertha’s new signing. “Davie will definitely be able to help us with the qualities he has, both on and off the pitch.” Sorting out formations and systems was a priority in the first week of training. “It was tiring but overall the break was not too long. I don’t think I have lost too much physically,” said Hertha’s number 23 after the session. “I also know that training will be particularly hard right now.”
The coaching team are asking the players to train at 10:00 and 16:00 (all CEST) on Tuesday and Wednesday, while the squad will also be training on Thursday and Friday morning. Their next friendly is on Friday evening (21.07.17) against FC Anker Wismar at 17:30 CEST. After a recovery session on Saturday morning, the team will then take part in the ‘Cup of Traditions’ in Duisburg. FC Malaga will be their first challengers in the 45-minute long matches, before taking on MSV Duisburg or Aston Villa.