Good feelings

Rousing applause is not usually expected for a half-time goalkeeping substitution but there were cheers and chants from the travelling Hertha fans at the beginning of the second half in Saturday’s friendly against Babelsberg. Because the player coming on to take his place between the sticks was doing it for the first time in 468 days. Rune Jarstein made his long-awaited comeback in the club’s second pre-season friendly. “Rune definitely deserved it,” said head coach Sandro Schwarz. Jarstein was also pleased. “It was a great feeling, I have a good connection with the fans and it was very nice to be welcomed back onto the pitch like that.”

Only looking ahead

It was a feeling that the goalkeeper has had to do without for a long time. However, the long-time Hertha man didn’t want to spend any time thinking about the tough period behind him at full time. “It was a long time and I'm just happy to be back on the pitch. The past is the past, I'm only looking ahead now and I’m using every day to work hard and want to be ready when the coach needs me. Physically, I feel good,” said the 37-year-old with a smile. Jarstein and his teammates had been putting in the effort in intensive sessions during the first of two pre-season training camps. “The week in Kienbaum was very good, we trained really intensely and therefore could feel it in our legs, but that's how it should be after a training camp,” said the goalkeeper.

Good relationship with Christensen - looking forward to the upcoming friendlies

Everything is of course better when you get along well with your teammates. That is the case among our goalkeepers. “Oli [Christensen] and I have a good connection. We talk a lot and train well with the other goalkeepers. It's a good group and it's fun being with him and the boys,” says Jarstein. “I just don't understand his Danish very well. It's a strange language," laughs the Norwegian. Jarstein and his fellow Scandinavian have even more time to joke around after the game against Babelsberg, as head coach Sandro Schwarz gave his team a day off. “We can enjoy the Sunday off, and then it starts again on Monday with two sessions. Every coming friendly will be more and more demanding, but we’re looking forward to them,” said the 72-time Norway international. After his long spell on the sidelines, the goalkeeper’s excitement is palpable.