“We have a clear task”

The pain of the seventh relegation in Hertha’s history was self-evident at the Olympiastadion for all the players. Benjamin Weber was also experiencing this, but calmly spoke to the media, analysing the situation and summing up the events. “When you looked at the faces, you could see the frustration on everyone’s part. We didn’t get relegated in one game, however. It is the result of the whole season with this game as a reflection of that,” said the sporting director.

At the same time, the 43-year-old emphasised the joint task for the coming weeks and months. “We are all allowed to be utterly disappointed right now, but then it’s a matter of quickly looking ahead. We will start doing that from Sunday, because unfortunately we have already had to prepare for this scenario. We have a clear aim, a clear plan of how we want to set Hertha up as a club as a whole and the way we want to go, together with the fans, the members and the staff. We have a clear task and we are prepared for it.” herthabsc.com has all Weber’s key comments on…

Weber: When you looked at the faces, you could see the frustration on everyone’s part. We didn’t get relegated in one game, however, and made far too many mistakes this season. It is the result of the whole season with this game as a reflection of that, in which we concede a goal in the final moments. As a player, you naturally think: shit, that can’t be true, especially since we had the chance to make it 2-0 beforehand. We are all allowed to be utterly disappointed in that moment. It is clear that anyone who is relegated after 33 matches hasn’t done everything right over the past few years. Now it’s a matter of quickly looking ahead. We will start doing that from Sunday, because unfortunately we have already had to prepare for this scenario.

Weber: Of course, the coming period will be challenging, but so were the months that we have just had. We have a clear aim, a clear plan of how we want to set Hertha up as a club as a whole and the way we want to go, together with the fans, the members and the staff. Our academy will be important aspect of this. It is also clear that there will be changes in the squad. It will be a busy few weeks and months, since the second division starts again quite soon. We have a clear task and we are prepared for it.

Weber: Everyone who was in the stadium noticed how the fans pushed the whole club again in this game. We should really build a statue for the fans for the whole season. They were right behind us for 94 minutes again, and in a season like this. We have to absorb and channel this strength. Our members and fans are the foundation that supports our club. We must continue to strengthen this.

Weber: We clearly said that we would first take on these six games together, then discuss the way forward and communicate our decision accordingly. Now we’ll go to Wolfsburg and finish the season. Afterwards, we will start planning for the new season, which we have of course already begun. We have to look ahead quickly.