"We need to go into every game as well-prepared as possible"
Pál Dárdai knows the business of football well – he doesn’t mind the fact that, despite the busy week of training sessions and matches, he still has other duties to perform. Hertha are currently in the middle of three games in six days, the conclusion of which is an away game on Friday night against TSG Hoffenheim, the 10th game of this Bundesliga season already (20:30 CEST). Our Herthaner are looking to make it four wins on the spin, following wins against Frankfurt, Mönchengladbach and Preußen Münster in their last three games. Dárdai spoke on Thursday about the upcoming task in his regular press conference: “We’re going into this away game in a good mood. If 16 or 17 players are in good form on the day, then we’ll be able to win in Hoffenheim,” said the head coach, sporting director Arne Friedrich sitting alongside him. herthabsc.en have collected all the quotes from Friedrich and Dárdai here.
Pál Dárdai and Arne Friedrich on...
... TSG Hoffenheim:
Pál Dárdai: We’re going into this away game in a good mood. If we play in a disciplined fashion and reduce the gaps, we’ll have a real defensive wall. We were also good going forward in the second half against Gladbach. Hoffenheim are quite like us in the way they have produced some results that were expected and some which weren’t. If 16 or 17 players are in good form on the day, then we’ll be able to win there.
... the back line:
Pál Dárdai: Márton Dárdai and Niklas Stark are both fit and healthy. We will still have to wait a while with Niklas, as he’s had a couple of days off and is feeling a bit sore from the workload, but I think I can choose who plays alongside Dedryck Boyata. After the final training session we’ll know a bit more.
... tactical decisions:
Pál Dárdai: I’m really happy that we’re able to play in a back three and a back four. Both systems are options, and that’s a big positive. I prefer a back four, but we will take a look at the game and we can react to anything that happens. We always talk about our plan B beforehand in the team meetings – we don’t want any surprises, so we go into every game as well-prepared as possible. If the plan isn’t there, the players begin to hesitate, and we can’t afford to do that.
... the summer signings:
Arne Friedrich: It’s still a bit too early to evaluate yet. We had a clear plan in summer and are convinced that the players we’ve signed fit into the Hertha BSC ethos well. We’re very happy that the new lads are getting more game time and getting to know the club. Every single one has their own quality.
... the development of the team:
Arne Friedrich: We’re satisfied with the squad, but we need to keep proving ourselves every weekend with our performances and contest every single game. This run of wins has done us all a lot of good. What’s clear is that we are in the middle of a development process. We still have a lot of work ahead of us, but we want to work hard and keep taking those little steps forward.
... Marco Richter:
Pál Dárdai: You only play as well as he is doing when you train well, and Marco is doing that for sure. I’m incredibly happy with him. He has got over the thigh issue which stopped him at the start of the season. He’s a lot more courageous, has a good level of fitness, and isn’t just important for the team in terms of his goals, but also because he plays in a disciplined way and does his thing.