Fredi Bobic left Eintracht in favor of Hertha. A year and a half later he’s gone again.Image: dpa / Tom Weller
Bundesliga
At the Berlin derby on Saturday, Hertha conceded the fifth derby bankruptcy in a row. The defeats against the city rivals Union Berlin hurt all the more, since the Köpenicker, who only rose in 2019, should be the little David to Hertha’s Goliath. Instead, Union is now runner-up in autumn and Hertha is facing a relegation battle that will really hurt after three defeats at the beginning of the year.
The derby frustration was also noticeable after the game Hertha managing director Fredi Bobic: The Hertha boss was asked from all sides about the job security of coach Sandro Schwarz, when an RBB reporter raised the issue for the second time, Bobic burst his collar. Little did he know at the time that his own sacking was imminent.
Bobic annoyed by the trainer question
The reporter wanted to know whether Bobic, who had repeatedly emphasized his trust in Sando Schwarz in recent weeks, could at least understand the public discussion about the coach. “No,” Bobic replied thin-lipped before turning away and ending the interview.
Sandro Schwarz should keep Hertha in the Bundesliga. Not an easy task, as he now knows.Image: imago / Jan Huebner
Apparently, the sports journalist’s interview style annoyed Bobic so much that he couldn’t resist a tip for next time: “If you ask again, you’ll get slapped”, Bobic babbled menacingly when leaving. In view of his anger, it was obvious that Bobic had not allowed himself a failed joke.
Bobic will never again have to ask questions about Sandro Schwarz’s job security. While Hertha still wants to stay in the league with coach Schwarz, Bobic is no longer managing director of the capital club.
On Monday afternoon, Bobic apologized for his statement. “I’m very sorry, I reacted too emotionally,” he said. “You shouldn’t overestimate that in football shortly after a game.” The saying wasn’t meant that way.
Bernstein allegedly wanted Max Kruse, Bobic wanted to trust Kader
On Saturday evening, the executive committee and supervisory board sealed the Bobic end at Hertha. President Kay Bernstein took a stand at a press conference on Sunday: “It is not an active decision against Fredi Bobic, but an active, conscious decision for a Hertha path,” emphasized the club president diplomatically.
According to “Kicker”, the relationship between Bernstein and Bobic should not have been the best.Image: dpa / Andreas Gora
Nevertheless, it is clear: With the sacking, Bernstein is reacting to Hertha’s sporting descent, for which Bobic must also take responsibility. In particular the squad planning of the 51-year-old was less successful than hoped: Numerous players that Bobic had brought in in his year and a half were obviously flops and are now gone again.
Other players that Bobic really wanted to get rid of (but couldn’t) in the course of his radical change are suddenly top performers at the basement club – example: Dodi Lukebakio.
During the winter break, Bobic is said to have emphasized that you have to trust the existing team in the relegation battle. Also due to the limited financial possibilities, Bobic had not planned any further newcomers.
Bernstein saw it differently, apparently he would have felt more comfortable strengthening the team in the fight to stay up: Among other things, he is said to have suggested a commitment from Max Kruse, who is currently without a clubas reported by “Bild”.
Max Kruse had recently separated from VfL Wolfsburg.Image: www.imago-images.de / Jan Huebner
Bobic was against it, in the end the president trusted the assessment of his managing director. After the defeats against Bochum, Wolfsburg and Union, Bernstein obviously regrets this decision.
Hertha BSC: Club icons disempowered by Bobic, now back
In addition, Bobic is said to have made some enemies internally: Since taking office a year and a half ago, Hertha has lost a number of club legends, and Bobic’s part in this was probably not well received by the club.
Ex-Hertha coach Pal Dardai – who was also a fan favorite and the club’s record player – was kicked out by Bobic, sporting director Arne Friedrich was deposed by Bobic before he left voluntarily. Andreas “Zecke” Neuendorf’s contract as assistant coach was also terminated under Bobic’s management.
Neuendorf (l.) worked for Hertha as an assistant coach to Pal Dardai (r.).Image: imago images/Matthias Koch
Now “Tick” is back: Together with Benjamin Weber, the long-time head of the youth academy, who also had to go under Bobic, the fan favorite is to take over the duties of the dismissed managing director. Weber takes over the post of sports director, “Zecke” should act as an interface to the youth sector.
It remains to be seen whether they will be able to make new signings before the transfer window closes on Tuesday.
The long uncertainty at the record champions is over. After the struggle to find a suitable successor for the injured goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, the Bundesliga restart was able to take place with the newly signed Yann Sommer in the starting XI. Coach Julian Nagelsmann resisted criticism from outside to let summer arrive first. According to critics, Bayern’s number two goalkeeper, Sven Ulreich, should have been in place instead.
