First team | September 26, 2017 at 12:34 AM
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Getting under way without Darida
On Monday (25/09/2017), the Blue-Whites started their week of training in high spirits ahead of Thursday’s Europa League game against Östersund. Vladimir Darida missed the session due to bruised ribs, but Davie Selke was with the group.
Berlin – Grey sky, hanging heads, silence on the pitch. You may be forgiven for thinking that was how Hertha’s Monday afternoon training session looked after the loss to Mainz, but reality was something else. “Aren’t you allowed to be in a good mood or train well after a defeat?” laughed Pál Dárdai after the around hour-long session. “The game was almost two days ago. We’re only looking forward,” continued the coach.
Instead of getting hung up on the defeat, the Blue-Whites were radiating positivity, laughing and genuinely enjoying themselves on the training pitch… all of this despite the grey skies. “We played a little ‘street football’ as a way to recover,” explained Dárdai. “We want to have sessions in which the team will have fun. That’s how you create a good atmosphere, which we need. Our next opponent awaits us on Thursday.” The midweek match will see the return of the UEFA Europa League group stages and Hertha’s first way trip in the competition this campaign - Östersunds FK are the opposition. “It won’t be a pleasant challenge for us. Playing an artificial pitch, different weather conditions – we’ll have to prepare ourselves for that,” said Dárdai. “The Swedes counter a lot. We have to be concentrated and precise with our passing – we don’t want any surprises,” he warned.
Who Dárdai will take to Sweden has not yet been decided. Vladimir Darida is in doubt after missing training with bruised ribs on Monday. “Vladi has to decide himself if he can come with us or not. If he sits out, it’s not ideal for us, but we don’t want to risk anything,” commented Dárdai. Whether Valentino Lazaro will be included in the squad for the first time after his appearance for the U23s last Friday is also open: “He made a good impression. It is, perhaps, too early,” said the coach.
[>]The plan is that he’ll take part in training once more this week. If he survives that, he can train with us.[<]
One man who definitely will not be boarding the plan to Scandinavia is Davie Selke, even though the striker took part in team training and after did more individual exercises. “It was just a test. He didn’t go into any tackles,” noted Dárdai. “He’ll continue to train individually. He should get involved with the recovery work as it’s good for him to continue to get to know the boys. The plan is that he’ll take part in training once more this week. If he survives that, he can train with us. He will also still have to work with Henrik Kuchno. After such a long lay-off, it’s important to build up the muscles so he doesn’t have any more problems,” explained the Blue-White coach.
As far as the week ahead is concerned, the players will take part in a behind-closed-doors training session on Tuesday, before flying to Östersund on Wednesday. The game in Sweden kicks off at 19:00 CEST on Thursday. The week doesn’t finish there, though – Bayern München come to town on Sunday (01.10.17). Hopefully spirits are still high after this tricky run of fixtures.