“There will be no friends in those 90 minutes”

While two Herthaner are still on international duty, Pál Dárdai started a new week of training in the capital on Tuesday, with two sessions to kick off preparations for Frankfurt. The players worked in the gym in the morning, before training at Schenckendorffplatz in the afternoon. The lads had already completed an individual programme at home on Monday.

Maolida training individually

Lukas Klünter, Jordan Torunarigha, Márton Dárdai, Linus Gechter and Rune Jarstein are all still missing from training, while Myziane Maolida is working individually with fitness coach Hendrik Vieth. Due to the large number of absentees, Marlon Morgenstern (U23s), Anton Kade and Tony Rölke (U19s) are all still with the first team. Stevan Jovetić and Peter Pekarík were back in Berlin from international duty, although it was too soon for them to return to training. Krzysztof Piątek and Jurgen Ekkelenkamp will join up with the squad at a later date.

Special return

The first game after the international break is away at Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday (16/10, 15:30 CEST). This will be a special match for Prince Boateng as he returns to his former club. “I’m looking forward to this game, but we need to want to win it – and then win it of course! We can hug each other before and after the game, however there will be no friends for the 90 minutes. It will be a tough game as they like to get stuck in, but we can reach their level,” said Boateng, who played for the Eagles between 2017 and 2018 and won the DFB-Pokal with SGE. After training on Tuesday, our number 27 spoke about…

…the squad’s togetherness: We’ve got some injuries and a number of important players are out, but that’s just part of football. We are working on growing closer together as a group. We’re in a difficult situation, however this provides us with the chance to become closer. You grow together after defeats, not wins.

…his reputation within the squad: They all fully respect me. I know that they love me and they are fully behind me. I’m there if anyone wants to speak to me.

...dealing with criticism: I’ve received more criticism than praise throughout my career, so I’m simply used to it and I can shake it off. There are things, however, that are below the belt. I know what I want to talk about. I have been lucky enough to work as a TV pundit and I would never have made a statement like Lothar Matthäus did. Regardless of how old a player is or how they are performing, you simply cannot say their career is over after just seven matchdays.

…his physical condition: I didn’t arrive here as the 25-year-old Prince Boateng who could win every game by himself and could score and assist a goal each game. I knew that before coming, so did the club and we were both in agreement. I might not complete the full 90 minutes, or I might play the next 10 games – it simply depends on each game and situation. I’m 34 now and everybody knows what I’ve achieved. I am pushing myself to my limits to help the team. Sometimes I don’t sleep because I work 24 hours a day towards helping Hertha to become what the club deserves to be.

…the Frankfurt game: I’m looking forward to it and I hope the fans give me a good reception. It’s a game that we need to want to win – and then we need to win it of course! We can hug each other before and after the game, however there will be no friends for the 90 minutes. It will be a tough game as they like to get stuck in, but we can reach their level.

…his support from the bench: This passion and these emotions are what I’m all about. I was desperate to come home and here I am. Now my life revolves around this club, 24 hours a day. Being on the bench is like the same as being on the pitch for me, I just want to help the lads.

…changes to his district and the city: I’m not out that much; I mainly stay at home. To be honest, you don’t want to go out much when you’ve lost at the weekend. It’s nicer to see friends when you’ve picked up the three points. If we beat Frankfurt, we can come back and then enjoy the weekend.