By Robert Lamprecht
After a contemplative and quiet Christmas break, Hertha is truly starting off in the new year. On January 3, the soccer stars will leave for a training camp in Florida/USA, where they will spend eleven days at the IMG Academy in Bradenton to prepare for the start of the Bundesliga after the World Cup break.
Before Hertha battles for league points in Bochum on January 21, a lot of hard work awaits coach Sandro Schwarz’s (44) players in Florida.
On 8 January (20:00 CET), Hertha will meet Club de Lyon FC, who play in the United Premier Soccer League (UPSL), for the first time at the IGM Academy training ground. Soon after, at 11pm (CET), the next test against The Villages SC of USL League Two will take place there.
Hertha intends to put the training content learned into practice against these lower-class teams. The attacking game and ball possession in particular still need to be optimised.
Coach Schwarz: “When we are in possession of the ball and playing our offensive game, we need to develop more danger and precision. We still have room for improvement, especially in the last third.”
On January 11 (18:00 CET), what has been learned will be perfected again against the best talents of the SIMA Montverde Academy. And a few hours later comes the friendly against former Colombian champions Millonarios FC (1:00 CET) at Osceola County Stadium in Kissimmee.
This is the last test of strength before the Bundesliga match in Bochum.
In the last 19 league games, Hertha finally wants to restart. In the first 15 games of the shortened first half of the season, the Berliners (15th place) were able to convince in terms of play, but the number of points (14 points) was clearly too low.
Hertha forward Wilfried Kanga is improving and becoming more accurate Photo: City Press
Hertha coach Fredi Bobic (51) now believes in an increase: “After such a big upheaval in the summer – like the one we had – it also takes time for the boys to find each other. You see the positivity and mutual drive on and off the pitch. I like the different roles in the team. This way we get a good structure again, where it’s easier for newcomers to integrate right away. I’m sure some of them will step up in quality.”
Bobic continues: “Such a kanga works for three players, for example, it will solve the luck. I have seen a lot of strikers explode after six months…”
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