Jonjoe Kenny and Filip Uremović doing some fitness work.
First team | June 30, 2022, 02:51 PM

Settling in

“We’ve got enough other lads to play at right-back,” said Filip Uremović with a smile on his face as he pointed in Jonjoe Kenny’s direction. Our two new signings spoke to the media on Thursday in Kienbaum. Despite a number of similarities between the two – including their passion for defending, their time in England and both being born in 1997 – there are a number of stark differences between the Croat and the Englishman.

Filip Uremović smiles during an interview.
Filip Uremović is raring to go ahead of his new challenge.

Excited to play in the Bundesliga

One of the big differences between the two is their favourite position. While Uremović is more at home in the centre of the defence, Kenny prefers to be on the right-hand side. “I think I’ve always been a fighter. I like to work hard,” said the Liverpool-born man about his own style of play. The 25-year-old spent 2019/20 on loan at FC Schalke 04 and showed back then that he can adapt to the Bundesliga. “It’s a physical league. You need a lot of energy to get up and down, and I like that,” commented Kenny, who joined this summer from Everton. Uremović, on the other hand, has never played in the Bundesliga before, another difference between the duo. “The Bundesliga is one of the best three leagues in the world. I believe in myself though,” stressed the Croatia international, who ended last season on loan at Sheffield United in the Championship.

The pair both enjoyed a successful start to life at the club with a 7-0 friendly win over TuS Makkabi Berlin on Wednesday evening. Head coach Sandro Schwarz said: “They have both settled in very quickly, in both the game and in training. Jonjoe made a number of runs in behind, that’s important. Filip not only did his job at the back, but got a goal too.” Kenny’s first professional goal actually came against Hertha. “There was a bit of luck involved,” reflected the defender. “Now I obviously hope to score some goals for Hertha.” Of course though, their main tasks for the 2022/23 season will be to prevent the opposition from finding the back of the net.

[>]
They have both settled in very quickly, in both the game and in training. Jonjoe made a number of runs in behind, that’s important. Filip not only did his job at the back, but got a goal too.
[<]

-Sandro Schwarz

Jonjoe Kenny during an interview.
Jonjoe Kenny prefers to focus on the present, rather than the future.

Ambitious goals

The two training camps in pre-season will give the new signings the time to fully settle in, both on and off the pitch. “The club is really big. I’m still trying to learn everyone’s names. I should hopefully have managed that in a few weeks. Everyone’s really nice and it’s a good group,” reported Uremović. Kenny, on the other hand, knows Suat Serdar well from their time together in Gelsenkirchen. “His English is better now and so is my German, so we can talk quite easily with one another,” revealed the former England U21 international.

Both new signings have ambitious goals for this season. “I want to help the team as much as I can. We need to get better results than last season, that’s the most important thing. With our new coach and a positive mindset, we can achieve that,” said the centre-back. Kenny added: “I don’t want to look too far ahead. Instead, I want to prepare for the new season as well as I can in order to be the possible Jonjoe.” The right-back will be back in his home country from 12th to 23rd July for our second pre-season training camp at St. George’s Park. “I’ve been there many times and I’m looking forward to it. It’s a really nice place,” praised Kenny.

by Hertha BSC