“We need to get through this unusual situation together”

Hertha’s new head coach Bruno Labbadia was presented to the media on Monday morning (13/4/20).

Berlin – Normally a new head coach will always meet the media in a press conference in professional football, however this wasn’t necessarily a given for Bruno Labbadia due to the ongoing coronavirus crisis. Thankfully, a number of safety precautions were taken, meaning that Hertha’s new head coach, as well as sporting director Michael Preetz, could meet journalists on Monday (13/4/20) at the Olympiastadion. Preetz welcomed his new head coach to Berlin and also thanked Alexander Nouri, Markus Feldhoff and Werner Leuthard for their hard work as they departed the club to make way for Labbadia and his new team. “It was clear that we would have a new head coach in the summer. In these slightly strange times, the opportunity to give the new coaching staff time to prepare the team accordingly arose – so we took that chance,” explained Preetz. He described his new colleague as “a child of the Bundesliga”, before going on to say that “Labbadia and his coaching team should now stabilise the side, before going on to implement an attacking style of play over the coming months.”

Labbadia wants “everyone involved” – and waives part of his salary

The coach’s first official words in charge were directed at the supporters: “It will probably be a while before we can meet each other in person. I’m pleased to be here. Hertha was the club that I wanted to join; I see a lot of potential here and I’m excited for this challenge.” He is also looking to implement his footballing ideas step by step and “make the best of this situation. We need to take things one step at a time. Our first challenge together is getting through this tough situation – in a footballing sense, a fitness sense and a mental sense. We want everybody involved and want to get to know the players,” described Labbadia. The new coach has also decided to waive parts of his salary until the season is back up and running again.