Teams | October 29, 2020 at 06:24 PM

Team player, goalscorer

On a personal level, Jhon Córdoba has enjoyed a succesful start to life at Hertha. Now he’s targeting a first home goal against Wolfsburg, but even more important is the chance to add three valuable points to the tally.

Even after an intense training session, Jhon Córdoba still hasn’t had enough. Together with Matheus Cunha and Omar Alderete, he continues to fire shots towards Alexander Scholow’s goal; only once all the balls have hit the back of the net do they drag themselves from the pitch, laughing as they go. It’s an image that captures Córdoba’s character well. The Colombian is a goalscorer, but he is also a player who puts the success of the team first – a point that he is keen to drive home as he discusses his bright start with herthabsc.de. “It’s been a good start for me,” says Córdoba of his first five matches, in which he has netted three times. “But I don’t score these goals for me – I do it for the team. For me, having success as a team is more important than the goals I score.” Ahead of the home match against Wolfsburg on Sunday (01/11/20), Hertha’s number 15 also discussed the club’s current form, with the side having lost four Bundesliga matches on the bounce: “We find ourselves in this situation together, so now we want to get ourselves out of it together. We have the quality to do that, but now we need to start picking up the points!”

The potential in the squad was shown by the brave performance in Leipzig, in which Córdoba finished off an outstanding counter-attack to give Hertha an early lead. “That goal shows the quality that we have in all areas of the pitch, not just in attack,” says Córdoba. “We didn’t pick up any points, but that wasn’t our only good moment as a team. Now we have to reach that level again, and perform like that consistently!”

One of the attacker’s sporting dreams, a debut for his national team, is now within touching distance. Córdoba was in the Colombia squad for the last round of international fixtures, but that first appearance has proven elusive so far. “I was unbelievably proud to be able to travel with the national team,” says the striker, “and now I have to keep performing consistently for my club. If we can get good results as a team then hopefully I will get my chance!” The 27-year-old sees his new home in Berlin as the ideal place to achieve the success he needs to earn his first Colombia caps. “I’ve already settled in well. My family is here with me and we feel really comfortable in Berlin. It’s a really pretty city with lots of different sides to it. I get the feeling that I’m in the right place!”

Being in the right place is key for Córdoba. The striker has scored in every away match, yet he is still waiting for his first Hertha goal at the Olympiastadion. Will he be celebrating against the Wolves? “I’m not putting myself under any pressure. The chance will come sooner or later – maybe this Sunday!” Statistically speaking, this weekend’s opponents are one of Córdoba’s favourite teams to face; the centre forward has scored more goals against Wolfsburg than against any other side currently in the Bundesliga, while also remaining unbeaten against them so far. With three goals in five matches against Wolfsburg, there are parallels to be drawn with Córdoba’s record in blue and white this season. “I hope that I can build on my record as a Herthaner;” says the striker. “It would be ideal if I can score and we can win as a team.” That obviously won’t be easy against a side from Lower Saxony who finished in the European places last season, though. “I expect an exciting, close match. We need the points and we want to improve our position in the league table – we can make a start on that against Wolfsburg.” With that, the 6’ 2’’ striker disappears into the dressing room, still carrying the bag of balls with him. A goalscorer and a team-player, Córdoba will give his all to do his bit for the side.

He said...

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I expect an exciting, close match. We need the points and we want to improve our position in the league table – we can make a start on that against Wolfsburg.
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-Jhon Córdoba

by Hertha BSC