“We need to be creative and use all of our resources”

Bruno Labbadia talks about his new role, the coaching team and the two players who returned to the training ground on Thursday (16/4/20).

Berlin – The Herthaner were greeted by some sunshine and clear skies as they took to the training ground on Thursday morning (16/4/20) – the perfect conditions for football. Hertha’s training sessions, just like most things in society, are currently affected by the safety precautions taken in order to prevent the further spreading of the coronavirus. “There are clear guidelines and we are regularly in contact with the state government, who give us tips. We have to be creative because of the safety measures and need to come up with exercises that the lads can join in with. The players are extremely enthusiastic right now,” said Bruno Labbadia in a video call after Thursday morning’s training session. “We obviously can’t do any tackling and, as a coaching team, we can only bring parts of our ideas to the table right now. We simply have to accept this situation. The experience will improve us and we need to make the best out of it!”

Stark and Wolf back training

Hertha are currently training in four separate groups. The outfielders are working in groups of eight, with players from each position in each group, so that they can work on tactical and game situations together. Niklas Stark and Marius Wolf are both back with the squad, having previously had contact with an infected person, meaning they both had to stay at home on their own for a period. The four goalkeepers are training on their own separately, and all the groups have to complete their sessions on different training pitches. Despite the tricky situation, Labbadia wants to “replicate game situations as best we can. We are trying to bring an element of fun to training, whilst ensuring that everyone is fully concentrated. This mix is very important!”

This mix should also be present in the coaching team. The new coach elaborated on this during his conversation with the media: “You need building blocks that fit together in football. My assistant coaches compliment me and make up for my weaknesses, and they also bring their own strengths too. We work really well as a team. I’ve known Eddy Sözer for a long time and Olaf Janßen has been with me since my time at Wolfsburg. He’s also good at video analysis, where he works well with Dominik Wohlert. He’s also useful on the pitch – he wasn’t a head coach in Bundesliga 2 for nothing,” said Labbadia. “Günter Kern is a fitness coach who matches the kind of football we want to play. Henrik Kuchno and Hendrik Vieth are also equally involved – we will use all of resources and are a team!”

Labbadia and his coaching team are only focussing on the present right now: “All players, regardless of their contract status, need to prove themselves at the minute,” stressed the new coach. “The only thing that matters now is giving your best for Hertha BSC so that you are ready for the final nine games of the season whenever they are!”