"We have to stick together"

Hertha tried everything, didn’t give up and fought to the end, but at the end of the game, the team return to Berlin with nothing having lost 3-0 in Frankfurt. In part, this was due to the good form of the hosts and their excellent striker Randal Kolo Muani, but also due to a first 45 minutes which, all in all, were not good enough. “We were still asleep in the first half, Frankfurt were the better team. If we let the game get away from us like that up until half time, it will always be incredibly difficult here,” said Florian Niederlechner, who was critical of the performance after his first start in a Hertha shirt. “The coach found clear words in the dressing room and had the expectation that we would show a difficult side of us. After that, we were more in the game and had our chances.” Even if the mood is not good after four straight defeats in the New Year, the new signing appealed to the importance of togetherness. “After the game, it is difficult to stay positive. But, we have to stick together; if we do that, then I am certain that we will be able to get out of this hole we’re in.”  herthabsc.com has summarised the intial reaction to the game in Frankfurt.

Florian Niederlechner: We were still asleep in the first half, Frankfurt were the better team. If we let the game get away from us like that up until half time, it will always be incredibly difficult here. The coach found clear words in the dressing room and had the expectation that we would show a difficult side of us. After that, we were more in the game and had our chances. Our opponents just cleared it off the line twice. After the game, it is difficult to stay positive. But, we have to stick together; if we do that, then I am certain that we will be able to get out of this hole we’re in.

Marco Richter: We were just not good enough in the decisive moments, even though we had planned for the game a lot and knew what was going to be ahead of us. We also lost the key duels, somehow were not ready and awake enough – we can’t let that happen. In the second half, we did better and stood up to them more. But when you go into the break at Frankfurt 2-0 down, it will always be very, very difficult. The fact that Eintracht managed to clear the ball off the line twice shows that luck is just not on our side at the moment. Now, we just have to keep working. I can only emphasise it once again: We have to wake up and pick up some points.

Marvin Plattenhardt: We didn’t start the game well and gave the ball away too easily. We were not threatening enough in transition. We didn’t do enough in the first half. In the second period, we picked ourselves up again and played better. But at the end of the day we lost 3-0, that’s the bottom line. We have to do the basics right on the pitch and keep fighting together – otherwise it won’t work. We all know how the table looks, we have some things to work on and we have to approach the game differently in the coming weeks. We are working to do that on the training pitch every day.

Prince Boateng: We didn’t get a grip of the game in the first half. We tried to work hard and press, but Frankfurt played really well and are a settled team. The second half playing with a different system was a lot better from us. But, it wasn’t enough and we’re in a really terrible situation at the moment. The first two games after the training camp weren’t good, but we put up a good showing against Union and here at least we didn’t play too badly in the second half. You can lose in Frankfurt but it has been too many games one after another now where we have not got anything out of them. No points, no positive feeling! We need that so that we’re able to believe in the work we’re doing. We still have 15 games to go. I also know that it is very difficult for the fans. But, we have to stick together and we need every Herthaner with us.