Football – arrogance and case: Hertha BSC on the way to third class

How the backdrop can deceive: more than 70,000 spectators, the sun -finished Berlin Olympic Stadium completely in blue and white, Hertha BSC against Schalke 04. But instead of football festival, this traditional duel is said: relegation battle in the second league – because both are an example of how donors can ruin an association, whether profit -oriented investors or power -oriented patrons there. Spring feelings then only felt the guests from Gelsenkirchen on this warm Saturday, who shot themselves to a calming eleventh place after the 2-1 and now two wins in a row.

In the Westend in Berlin, however, the fear of a further descent has not become smaller. To prevent this, Stefan Leitl was presented as a new coach almost three weeks ago. Now he thinks the situation is just as serious as before his first game with Hertha BSC. With this, Leitl is violent: With the three games so far in which he has only won one point, three more chances have been taken to collect points for relegation. Even if the Berliners are still fifth last after the 25th matchday, the distance to the relegation places has become smaller. However, the uncertainty of the footballers is getting bigger with every negative experience.

Hoe and pirouette

The fans of Hertha BSC recognized the true seriousness of the situation. Her demand to read on a huge banner in the east curve on Saturday: “Accept the relegation battle!” This can be said after a 0: 4 in Elversberg. Against Schalke, not all Berlin footballers gave the impression that they had recognized the signs of the times. After a catastrophic first half ended with 0: 1, Hertha had just achieved the equalization shortly after the restart, when scorer Fabian Reese plays the ball on his own penalty area. Ibrahim Maza then prefers a pirouette. At some point a senseless error chain ends with the penalty whistle: Kenan Karaman safely transforms into the final score, 25,000 Schalke celebrations, Hertha is whistled.

In order to lead a football club to a three -digit debt area, not only dangerous donors are needed, but also incompetent and greedy club management. Both Schalke and Hertha BSC have often overestimated themselves in the past. But as precarious as this year, it was rare in Berlin. Because: Heating in the lower house follows the free case. At best in league three – even deeper, there should be problems with the license whether the financial situation. The application documents for the 3rd division will be sent to the DFB in the coming week.

Refusal of reality

“Hertha BSC can’t get off.” That said Cristian Fiél in mid -February. A 1: 2 at Fortuna Düsseldorf followed and after a total of eleven defeats the discharge of the coach. After the game against Schalke, his successor Leitl asked almost as well in the media round: “Did you see what we are able to play?” The Berliners had several chance in the second half of the chance to compensate for and were also the better team. However, this in a home game against a similarly battered and unsettled opponent who wanted to defend the lead.

Whether Leitl’s belief in the quality of his players is really so big can be doubted: In his three games, he brought three different teams to the pitch in terms of staff and system. However, faith with Andre Mijatović is unbroken. Leitl’s assistant coach won the second division championship with the Berliners almost 14 years ago, as captain. Since then Hertha BSC has been number one in the city for him. “We want to be again in the future,” he said shortly after his return. Before the dream, the relegation must first be developed. The next stop: Braunschweig. Eintracht lies three points behind Hertha on relegation square, but, as on Sunday at 1-1 in the heated derby near Hannover 96, makes a better impression in the hard fight against relegation.