Football – Berlin – Herthas Swabia repress emotions: points against VfB – Sport
Berlin (dpa) – In Berlin there are some areas with a high proportion of people who have moved from Swabia. In the Westend, a large group of former Stuttgarters in the service of Hertha BSC on Sunday (5.30 p.m. / DAZN) has to suppress all pleasant feelings and memories of the country. “That’s as clear as day. There can be no question of consideration. The points in Augsburg only really count when we score again,” said coach Felix Magath before the game in the Bundesliga against VfB Stuttgart, which was stylized as a big showdown in the relegation battle .
VfB had to prepare for “a tough fight,” said 68-year-old Magath, who looked after Stuttgart from 2001 to 2004. This was his “best time” as a coach, both privately and professionally, reported Magath, who had already matured a lot as a coach. In Stuttgart it was his first time in the Champions League. Otherwise, until then, only a relegation battle was announced. Like now again with Hertha.
Managing director Fredi Bobic, who played for VfB from 1994 to 1999, remembered the times of the magic triangle with Krassimir Balakow and Giovane Elber on Friday: “It was a carefree time. Everyone knows the stories. But they are our opponents and we want the points.” He wishes VfB “all the best” after the game.
Hertha is one point ahead of the Swabians in 15th place in the table. The game can also show the way in the final spurt of the season. Magath didn’t care whether the game was his 500th or 499th assignment as a Bundesliga coach. The statistics seem ambiguous. “These numbers mean nothing to me,” said the Hertha coach unequivocally.
Magath announced that he would largely rely on the last team to make it 1-0 in Augsburg, with Kevin-Prince Boateng as the driving force. It is still unclear who will replace Marco Richter, who has been suspended, in attacking midfield. One candidate is Vladimir Darida.
Marc Oliver Kempf – like clearer Santiago Ascacibar another ex-Stuttgarter in Charlottenburg – did not injure his ankle seriously in training on Thursday and, according to Magath, will be available in the Olympic Stadium on Sunday. The 27-year-old played for VfB until the beginning of the year and needed several weeks to get used to the sport in the capital. A dismissal and penalties gave rise to malicious speculation that Kempf was actually a Swabian football agent fighting relegation.
Magath now sees the central defender on the right track. “He seems more self-confident, he will be important for us against his old comrades,” said the Hertha coach. Kempf can’t just afford Swabian nostalgia.
© dpa-infocom, dpa:220422-99-04311/3