Working hard to prepare for Mainz

When asked by reporters what Felix Magath had turned the team into since taking over as head coach, Prince Boateng had one word to say: “Machines.” The 35-year-old added, “Our coach gave us a spirit.” With the team faced with another relegation battle in the season run-in, Magath has managed to give them the fighting spirit needed to survive. Hertha have taken seven points from their last three games, all on the basis of hard work, team spirit and passion. Another win this weekend (Saturday, 07.05.2022, 18:30 CEST) against 1. FSV Mainz 05 would be enough for the Old Lady to secure safety. “It’s in our hands, and we want to get it done at home,” said Boateng.

Working hard to prepare for Mainz

On Tuesday, Boateng and his teammates began preparations for Saturday’s key match at the Olympiastadion. “We will continue to work as hard as we have in the last weeks, and focus solely on that,” said Vladimír Darida. “We aren’t thinking about what might happen the next day in Munich. If we do our job, then we won’t have to wait for that.”

During the course of an 80-minute session on Tuesday, Magath observed his team run through various drills and small-sided games, before ending with shooting practice. The team will have several more hours of training before Saturday’s big game. Alexander Schwolow and Dongjun Lee missed the first session of the week with injury, as did Niklas Stark and Linus Gechter (both ill). Lukas Klünter, Kélian Nsona and Stevan Jovetić all completed an individual session. On Saturday evening, Magath will have chosen 11 of his “machines” to take to the pitch and fight hard to secure safety with time to spare.