"We're growing as a team"
Whether on or off the pitch, it’s no secret that Jonjoe Kenny enjoys the company of his teammates, and can often be found laughing and joking with them. Despite having been at the club for only three months, the 25-year-old has fully settled into life at the Old Lady. “It was a big decision to come to Berlin, not only from a footballing point of view. I think that everything has gone well so far. However, this is just the beginning and there’s a lot still to come. I want to continue to work hard, play the best I can and prove how good I can be,” said the right-back, who is yet to miss a minute for Hertha across any of the first six competitive matches this season. Kenny has already impressed on the pitch as well, most recently in our first win of the season in Augsburg. “It’s improved from game to game. I’ve slowly internalised how we want to play. Against FCA, you could see that we have grown as a team, that we stick together and don’t let other things throw us off our game,” he said. The Liverpool native sat down with herthabsc.de to speak about his long drought in the Bundesliga, playing together with Dodi Lukébakio, learning German and the upcoming home game against Leverkusen (10.09.2022, 15:30 CEST).
herthabsc.com: Jonjoe, can you remember what happened on 17th January 2020?
Kenny: That was before Covid, right? I think I played Gladbach that day with Schalke.
herthabsc.com: Exactly, you won 2-0. And up until last Sunday, that was your last win in the Bundesliga!
Kenny: Oh right! (laughs) That’s really a long time. We went through a tough time back then, after having actually started well into the season. After that game, we had a lot of injury issues and that’s when the pandemic started. I returned to England after and am now back, this time at Hertha.
herthabsc.com: How did this most recent win feel?
Kenny: There were a lot of changes at the club over the summer – new players, a new coach, new ideas. I could feel with each game that the win was coming. It was a big relief to have won, since that’s what you’re competing for in football. We also deserved to win.
herthabsc.com: What did you improve on in this game compared to the previous ones? How would you rate your overall development?
Kenny: Our first game was the derby, followed by Frankfurt, Gladbach and Dortmund, which were four tough games. We also still needed to find ourselves as a team. After the game against Union, we delivered some solid performances. That’s when I realised that we had the quality and the character needed to win games. Everything went to plan in Augsburg, and everyone on the pitch knew what they needed to do.
herthabsc.com: You also did well in these games, with several successful moments. What was your best performance for Hertha so far? Where do you still see room for improvement?
Kenny: I’ve slowly internalised how we want to play and am feeling more confident with each game. That also goes for us as a team. I have played together with Dodi Lukébakio a few times now on the right side. It’s only been five or six games, but I think that we have already formed a strong connection on the pitch. We try to talk a lot and are becoming more and more in turn to what the other is doing. That also helps with our confidence. Overall, I’m very happy to be here and to be playing.
[>]I have played together with Dodi Lukébakio a few times now on the right side. We try to talk a lot and are becoming more and more in turn to what the other is doing.[<]
herthabsc.com: That much is obvious. You always have a big smile on your face, are always in a good mood during training and seem to feel very at home here. Is that right?
Kenny: It was a big decision to come to Berlin, not only from a footballing point of view. I was leaving behind not only my home, but also Everton, and this time on a permanent move. That was a big change. But, it’s what I wanted, to take control of my own life and fulfill a dream of mine. I made that choice and I made the choice to come to Hertha BSC. I really like this city, it’s a super impressive place. That’s also important aside from the football, in order to be able to focus on other things. There’s lots for me and my girlfriend to explore and so far, everything has gone really well. But, it’s just the beginning – there’s still a lot to come. I want to continue to work hard, play the best I can and prove how good I can be!
herthabsc.com: Another tough opponent awaits on Saturday in the form of Bayer Leverkusen. The Werkself have a strong squad, particularly in attack. How much work have you done already in terms of analysing them? What can be the difference?
Kenny: We always take a thorough look at all our opponents. The coach always explains to us how the opponent plays and how we want to play. It’s about putting that plan into action on matchday. Against FCA, you could see that we have grown as a team, that we stick together and don’t let other things throw us off our game. We supported each other, worked as a team and helped each other out. That’s also what the coach wants to see from us.
herthabsc.com: Going back to Augsburg for a moment: after the game, you posted a picture on Instagram with the caption “Auswärtssieg” (English: away win). Does that mean your German is also improving?
Kenny: I was taking lessons at Schalke already. I was able to understand quite a lot and say a few things, such as when I went to the shop. I’ve restarted my lessons now that I’m back in Germany. I want to be able to speak the language, which is why I try and practice it whenever I can.
herthabsc.com: We just did this interview in English. Maybe we’ll do the next one in German?
Kenny: We’ll see! (laughs)