Hertha BSC has to get the present under control

If you use the usual industry estimates, then Hertha BSC, despite all the financial difficulties, still maintains one of the most expensive squads in the second division. Measured against this, the sporting return after almost a quarter of the season is definitely too thin. After the 1-1 draw at FC Schalke 04 on Saturday evening, Hertha remains trapped in the middle of the rankings – with a considerable gap to the promotion ranks.

Many fans are therefore worried that the team will prematurely squander its big goal of returning to the Bundesliga, like last year. Such fears are both justified and unfounded.

Justified, because continuing the previous achievements will definitely not be enough. Unfounded because, on the one hand, the squad certainly has the necessary quality for promotion. And on the other hand, because there are still enough games to be played to catch up.

A look at the recent history of the second division shows that promotion will not be decided in the autumn. Three years ago, the two relegated Bundesliga teams Schalke 04 and Werder Bremen were in eighth and tenth place after eight matchdays. In the end, they confidently manage to return to the first league as champions and runners-up.

Quality helps. You just have to get them on the pitch.

Hertha has not yet managed this to a sufficient extent, but this is also due to the fact that the quality in the squad is not evenly distributed. It is particularly concentrated in the midfield, where there is an abundance of class. In attack and defense, however, things look rather thin.

The whole truth, however, is that a lot of quality is currently impaired. Fabian Reese, the outstanding player from last season, has been missing from Hertha since the summer. Michal Karbownik, Jeremy Dudziak, John-Anthony Brooks and Linus Gechter have also been out for several weeks.

However, hoping for the return of the injured and their invigorating effect will not help coach Cristian Fiél’s team. On the contrary: it endangers the goal of the season. Hertha has to get the present under control. And as quickly as possible.

Hertha must defend better and more consistently. Must be able to perform consistently and not just selectively. Overall, we have to be more serious, especially in front of both goals.

Against Schalke, the team showed that they are capable of dominance. However, only from the beginning of the second half until the equalizer made it 2-2 a good quarter of an hour before the end. But instead of keeping the pressure on Schalke, Hertha let their opponents slip away far too easily.

The team will no longer be able to afford many such negligences, otherwise they will actually lose touch with the top. This was their biggest problem last season. Hertha was no longer able to cope with the pressure of not allowing itself any more weakness. And unfortunately, there is currently no reliable evidence that she has learned from it and has become significantly more mentally stable.