Teams | October 28, 2017 at 12:39 PM

"Time to show what we're worth"

"Time to show what we're worth"

Summer signing Valentino Lazaro talks to Hertha BSC ahead of Saturday's game with Hamburger SV.
Berlin – Valentino has had to be patient for a long time; and he himself admits that that is not something he finds easy. Following his move from Salzburg to Berlin, the Austrian international has been struggling with a persistent injury. After a game for the Hertha U23s, in which the 21-year-old got on the score sheet, Lazaro has been in and out of the first team. Most recently, the Hertha man started in the midweek game against Köln. The Austrian, like everyone involved with Hertha, craves success. Here are his thoughts on the game against Hamburg, his time in Berlin so far, and his comeback from injury.
Hertha BSC: When you arrived in Berlin in the summer, injury prevented you from playing at first. How did you find those first weeks in Berlin?
Valentino Lazaro: The past weeks have been quite tough, what with having to recover from injury, followed by the packed fixture list. I’ve used my few days off to just relax and get used to living in my new flat. Now, I’m feeling good, and I’m noticing that my body is continuing to cope better with the strains and stresses that it goes through. Naturally, I’m hoping that I’ll be able to get back to the top of my game as quickly as possible, so that I can help the team as much as I can.
Hertha BSC: You have since made your Hertha debut. How good did it feel to get back on a football pitch?
Lazaro: Naturally, it felt really good, even though I know that I still have more to give. I want to start putting in my best performances as quick as possible. As a young player, you are sometimes too hard on yourself it is hard to be patient. So I still have to learn, that things sometimes take time. If the team has the same collective drive, I know we will be successful.
Hertha BSC: The defeat in the DFB-Pokal was a bitter one. Is it a good thing the game against Hamburger SV is coming up so soon afterwards?
Lazaro: Definitely. Naturally, the game against Köln was a tough one to stomach, because our performance was so underwhelming and because we wanted to go far in the cup. We have achieved that, and we need to take responsibility for that. Nevertheless, we need to keep looking forwards: The game against Hamburg is an extremely important one for us. And we want to prove what we’re worth, both to ourselves, and to our fans. Therefore we are going to really dig in and, unlike last time out, actually take our chances when we are on top, so that we don’t have to start chasing the game. But all else aside, we certainly have the quality to win the game. 
Hertha BSC: How will the boys have to play on Saturday to get the win at home?
Lazaro: We will have to fight for every ball and every centimetre. We’ll need to find the final ball up front, perhaps even from the midfield areas too. Maybe we can get some luck too, a fortunate bounce to our feet or something like that. We have to make the most of the breaks score goals from that in order to get our confidence back. 
Hertha BSC: You have never played against Hamburg before. What do you know about them and what are you expecting on Saturday?
Lazaro: Of course I know Hamburg. I heard a lot about them in Austria, even if it did not go so well for them last season. What’s most important is that we bring our own game and qualities onto the pitch. As I mentioned, a couple of goals would really help. If that doesn’t come off then we at least have to make sure we stay strong at the back. We must keep chipping away for 95 minutes, and wait for our chance to pounce and take the points. 
Berlin – Valentino has had to be patient for a long time; and he himself admits that that is not something he finds easy. Following his move from Salzburg to Berlin, the Austrian international has been struggling with a persistent injury. After a game for the Hertha U23s, in which the 21-year-old got on the score sheet, Lazaro has been in and out of the first team. Most recently, the Hertha man started in the midweek game against Köln. The Austrian, like everyone involved with Hertha, craves success. Here are his thoughts on the game against Hamburg, his time in Berlin so far, and his comeback from injury. 

Hertha BSC: When you arrived in Berlin in the summer, injury prevented you from playing at first. How did you find those first weeks in Berlin?

Valentino Lazaro: The past weeks have been quite tough, what with having to recover from injury, followed by the packed fixture list. I’ve used my few days off to just relax and get used to living in my new flat. Now, I’m feeling good, and I’m noticing that my body is continuing to cope better with the strains and stresses that it goes through. Naturally, I’m hoping that I’ll be able to get back to the top of my game as quickly as possible, so that I can help the team as much as I can.

Hertha BSC: You have since made your Hertha debut. How good did it feel to get back on a football pitch?

Lazaro: Naturally, it felt really good, even though I know that I still have more to give. I want to start putting in my best performances as quick as possible. As a young player, you are sometimes too hard on yourself it is hard to be patient. So I still have to learn, that things sometimes take time. If the team has the same collective drive, I know we will be successful.

Hertha BSC: The defeat in the DFB-Pokal was a bitter one. Is it a good thing the game against Hamburger SV is coming up so soon afterwards?

Lazaro: Definitely. Naturally, the game against Köln was a tough one to stomach, because our performance was so underwhelming and because we wanted to go far in the cup. We have achieved that, and we need to take responsibility for that. Nevertheless, we need to keep looking forwards: The game against Hamburg is an extremely important one for us. And we want to prove what we’re worth, both to ourselves, and to our fans. Therefore we are going to really dig in and, unlike last time out, actually take our chances when we are on top, so that we don’t have to start chasing the game. But all else aside, we certainly have the quality to win the game. 

Hertha BSC: How will the boys have to play on Saturday to get the win at home?

Lazaro: We will have to fight for every ball and every centimetre. We’ll need to find the final ball up front, perhaps even from the midfield areas too. Maybe we can get some luck too, a fortunate bounce to our feet or something like that. We have to make the most of the breaks score goals from that in order to get our confidence back. 

Hertha BSC: You have never played against Hamburg before. What do you know about them and what are you expecting on Saturday?

Lazaro: Of course I know Hamburg. I heard a lot about them in Austria, even if it did not go so well for them last season. What’s most important is that we bring our own game and qualities onto the pitch. As I mentioned, a couple of goals would really help. If that doesn’t come off then we at least have to make sure we stay strong at the back. We must keep chipping away for 95 minutes, and wait for our chance to pounce and take the points. 

by Hertha BSC