The extremes meet in Mönchengladbach’s Borussia Park this Friday. At the start of the third match day of the Bundesliga (8:30 p.m., live on Dazn), the team that has sent the fewest professionals onto the field so far this season plays against the team with the most players. Daniel Farke, the Borussia coach, has managed with 14 players so far. Sandro Schwarz from Hertha BSC already has 20.
So much turnover is rarely a good sign. The best example of this: Hertha BSC. In the past season, which went into extra time for the Berliners with the relegation against HSV, 36 players were used – more than in any other of the 18 Bundesliga clubs.
There are reasons for the high fluctuation among Berliners. The season has long since begun, but the squad is still provisional. Further changes are not only possible, but likely until the September 1 transfer window is finally closed, barricaded and locked.
Measured by normal standards, the squad that Schwarz is currently working with is far too large. “These are tough decisions,” he says, referring to the determination of the respective matchday squad. But many players also means: many different possibilities.
Daniel Farke, this Friday’s opponent, has fielded the same starting XI in both games of the season and barring anything out of the ordinary, it’s likely to be the case again against Hertha. On the other hand, Schwarz made three changes after the cup game in Braunschweig, and four after the derby against Union. And he also made good use of his change options (eight out of ten) – in contrast to his colleague Farke (four out of ten).
In Borussia Park, however, Schwarz could actually start this Friday with the same eleven as a week ago in the 1-1 win against Eintracht Frankfurt. At least there are no compelling reasons to make major changes again. After two defeats at the start of the season, the game against the Europa League winners was a step in the right direction. The increase in performance was clearly visible. “It was also necessary,” says Schwarz.
Above all, it was due to the personnel restructuring that Hertha’s coach had made after the dull appearance in the derby. More energy, more charisma as a team – you could see all of that against Frankfurt, at least over longer periods. It seems things are starting to fall into place.
Up front, the two newcomers Chidera Ejuke (left) and Wilfried Kanga (centre) replaced Myziane Maolida and Davie Selke. With them and the currently surprisingly conspicuous Dodi Lukebakio came a completely different stringency in Hertha’s offensive game. “They are good players, a bit different from the ones we had before,” said goalkeeper Oliver Christensen.
Ejuke is still in the process of working through the physical deficits that he carries with him due to the lack of preparation. “Of course, every training session brings him further,” says Schwarz. Even in the interaction there is occasionally a lack of fine-tuning.
Hertha’s coach urges Ejuke to make better decisions. In fact, he sometimes overdoes his dribbles, although one-on-ones are undoubtedly his greatest strength. In general, however, Schwarz is satisfied with the Nigerian: “He moves very well and is very diligent in training.”
Hertha’s midfield also had a better presence against Frankfurt. Schwarz had called up Lucas Tousart instead of Kevin-Prince Boateng and also gave him the captain’s armband. The Frenchman, Hertha’s most expensive transfer in the club’s history, did justice to this special role. But the competition in the midfield is great.
Hertha have just signed Jean-Paul Boetius, who made his debut as a joker against Eintracht. “Jean-Paul got off to a good start,” said Schwarz, who knows the Dutchman very well from their time at Mainz 05. “He had good sequences with the ball and a good grip on the ball.” With his qualities, but also with his standing with his coach, Boetius should sooner or later have a place in the starting XI. Maybe he even plays in Mönchengladbach from the start.
Boetius came on for Ivan Sunjic against Frankfurt. Tousart then took over his role as a six, while Boetius occupied the eighth position together with Suat Serdar, another former Mainzer. This formation is also a possible variant for the starting eleven in Mönchengladbach. “We’ll see how we put it together in midfield,” says Sandro Schwarz. In any case, there is no shortage of opportunities.
