A reduced squad and high intensity

“Short and snappy” was the motto on Monday afternoon when the Hertha squad came out onto the training pitch following their indoor athletics session. Following the 5-0 friendly win Ludwigsfelder FC, the green light was given for the final few tasks before the Christmas break. Our Blue and Whites will cross off another part of their winter schedule when they take on Hannover 96 on Friday (02.12.22).

A focused start to the week

To start off the demanding week of training ahead with its five public sessions, twelve outfield players and two goalkeepers did their warm up jog around the pitch. Then fitness coach Henrik Kuchno put the boys through their paces with on and off the ball exercises. After fifteen strenuous minutes and plenty of challenges, the boys closed out the session with a 4-versus-4. Prior to this, Suat Serdar, Marco Richter, Marc Kempf and Derry Scherhant had returned to the dressing room to work on regeneration. The final eight Hertha players worked on different passing and shooting exercise, trying to “keep the intensity high”, as Sandro Schwarz instructed across the pitch.

Eleven Hertha players train individually

The head coach had to do without several players for the session, with Marvin Plattenhardt, Stevan Jovetić, Jonjoe Kenny, Dodi Lukébakio, Jean-Paul Böetius, Myziane Maolida, Wilfried Kanga, Agustín Rogel, Kélian Nsona, Jessic Ngankam and Peter Pekarík training individually. Pekarík is expected to return to team training on Tuesday. Márton Dárdai (cold) and Dongjun Lee (ankle) were also missing. This was another reason for Schwarz to focus on the remaining players, but not to have a high load session. “In the remaining days we will not take anymore more risks in playing injured players in friendly, but instead cautiously work on getting them better and use the time we have,” said the head coach, explaining the current situation looking forward to the friendly in Niedersachsen. Prince Boateng and Deyovaisio Zeefuik were back and managed to complete the whole of the 45 minute session. In the coming days, training sessions at Schenckendorffplatz should be back to full strength, and work will be carried out with the same intensity.