Köpke wants more!

Towards the end of the first half of the season, Pascal Köpke started to finally get going. The young striker wants to carry on improving in the Rückrunde – hopefully straight away against his former club, 1.FC Nürnberg.

Berlin – One touch on his right foot, a quick jinx inside and then a precise finish into the far corner. Pascal Köpke celebrated his goal in the friendly against Arminia Bielefeld (4-1 win) by shaking hands with the man who assisted him, Davie Selke. His body language clearly showed that “he wanted more”. Moments like this show why Hertha BSC signed him last summer. Köpke had caught the attention of the Hertha scouts after registering 20 goals and eleven assists in 67 matches for second-division Erzgebirge Aue in the past seasons. Last summer, the side from the capital finally bought him. “We have followed Pascal’s progress very closely for a long time,” commented Michael Preetz in June.

The sporting director also made it clear when signing the son of former national team keeper Andreas Köpke that the club fully believed he would be able to make the step up into the Bundesliga. Preetz feels that this belief has been proven to be correct now. Köpke didn’t take long to adjust to the higher tempo, greater intensity and the demands of his new coach. Towards the end of the Hinrunde, Köpke began to start really showing his potential. “At the start it was slightly difficult for him, but only because his direct competitors in the squad were doing so well. He always had a great attitude and was a model professional from the off. I am happy with him; he is a great lad, who fits well in with our squad. He is developing really well,” praised head coach Pál Dárdai. The striker also reflected on his first few months at the club: “Obviously coming from the 2. Bundesliga you have to get used to the new surroundings, but I have constantly worked hard and have increased my performances week-by-week.” He had to show some patience in the first few months.

Bundesliga debut in Hannover

After making his competitive debut for the club in the DFB-Pokal win at Braunschweig, he was an unused sub for the first two Bundesliga games, before dropping out of the matchday squad altogether. The main factors were the return of Davie Selke, as well as tactical changes enforced by injuries. The former Germany youth player didn’t give up and gave Dárdai a selection headache by performing consistently well in training. The 23-year-old was also more than happy to gain some match practice by appearing for the U23s in the fourth division. He notched up three goals and one assist in his four games. “It was important to play some competitive football and to stay fully fit,” reflected the striker.

Dárdai noticed the top attitude and form of his striker and restored him to the matchday squad in November. At the fifth time of asking, Köpke came on as a sub during the 2-0 away win in Hannover, thus making his Bundesliga debut. Hertha’s number 14 then made further appearances in Stuttgart and Leverkusen. “The time just before Christmas was a lot better for me”, said the man who has been involved in ten Hertha matchday squads so far.

More appearances during the rest of the season

It’s hardly surprising that Köpke’s recent action in the Bundesliga have given him a timely boost. “I felt that I did well during the games I have played so far. I want to build on this and get more minutes under my belt.” The former Aue man knows how hard he will have to work to do that. “Now I have to carry on what I have been doing, to put pressure on. The winter break has gone well for me”, he said on the back of scoring goals against Bielefeld and in the Telekom Cup against Fortuna Düsseldorf.

Pál Dárdai can now choose from a number of players for the game against Nürnberg, not only because several players have returned from injuries. Köpke is aware of this, but will not let it affect him: “We are happy that almost everyone is back fit now. The priority is the team being successful. My goal is still to try and start every game though.” One decisive factor will also be what kind of tactics Dárdai uses for the coming months. If he opts to play a 3-5-2 instead of a 4-2-3-1, Köpke will have a better chance of starting.

Special meeting in Nürnberg

An appearance against Nürnberg would be something special for Pascal Köpke. “My family live in Nürnberg and I played for them for almost ten years. A number of friends will also be at the game on Sunday too,” reported Köpke, who has had several people ask him for tickets. It would the perfect footballing story: his first Bundesliga goal against his former club, in front of those people closest to him.