“Winning brings you closer to the next three points”

Hard work, tactical considerations and the right focus points in training – there are several things that a coach can do to give his team better chances of a victory ahead of a game. Wins like Hertha’s last time out against Bielefeld, that strengthen a side’s self-belief and the trust in a group’s work, are one of the best things that can happen to a team, as head coach Tayfun Korkut knows. “Wins are irreplaceable. They give you confidence and make you feel closer to the next three points,” said Korkut ahead of the upcoming game against Mainz. “The team has to continue working on this confidence on the pitch and reinforce their previous success. An intense game is awaiting us – one that we want to win.” Arne Friedrich also spoke about the game.” We don’t have a points target; rather want to continue developing as much as we have been recently with these remaining two games. The players are getting more and more confident, we don’t want to shy away and, after this great start under Tayfun, we want to see what we can do against these two sides,” said the sporting director. Tayfun Korkut and Arne Freidrich on…

Tayfun Korkut: Wins are irreplaceable. They give you confidence and make you feel closer to the next three points. But at the same time, a team always has to work towards that on the pitch and reinforce previous successes. I’m remaining positive, and I feel that the team is a curious and motivated one. It’s important that every player brings their strengths onto the pitch and make the right decisions to give the team a good feeling on the whole. A very intense game is awaiting us in Mainz – that’s why a big focus was on regeneration after the Bielefeld game.

Arne Friedrich: I have a very good impression of the work of our new coaching team, not only because of the decent points return. The team are composed, play a more dominant style of football and create more chances for themselves. I had a good feeling throughout the game against Arminia and was always sure that we’d win. I’ve also seen some significant improvements in defence. However, we’re still just at the start and have to carry on working cleverly.

Tayfun Korkut: Mainz 05 are having a really good season, but at the end of the day are only three points ahead of us. They are a side who play with a high intensity and focus their play on transitions. They will ask a lot of us but we are aware of our own strengths and are well prepared. It will be a tough task for us, but we want to win.

Tayfun Korkut: I’m really really happy to have attackers available who I can bring on and have a goal threat. We have possibilities – we saw that in the game against Bielefeld, and not only in attack. These options make me pleased and also give us optimism for the game in Mainz. The important thing now is to focus on the strengths of each individual player. The focus at the moment isn’t on worrying about how players can optimise their game, but rather about how we can help them as beset as possible and bring them along.

Arne Friedrich: We see all the time in the Bundesliga that any team can beat anyone. Therefore we don’t have a set points target; rather want to continue developing as much as we have been recently. The players are getting more and more confident, we don’t want to shy away and, after this great start under Tayfun, we want to see what we can do against these two sides.