After going through four managers in the space of a year, Hertha Berlin seemed to have finally found their man on the fifth attempt of trying to do so. Bruno Labbadia and his side have burst into life fresh out of lockdown and look better than ever. The change in management came after the unexpected departure of Jurgen Klinsmann in February; the German spent just three months in charge. The departure then led to Alexander Nouri taking charge temporarily. The original plan was to keep Nouri in charge until the end of the season; the pandemic forced a change of plan, however, and Labbadia was given the job earlier than expected.
Hertha Berlin: The Next Big Thing in the Bundesliga
The unexpected break became a blessing for Hertha as did the arrival of Labbadia. The German was given the perfect opportunity to have a mini pre-season with his players; the chance to get to know the squad without the pressure of games would have done Labbadia a world of good. New signings, Krzystof Piatek, Matheus Cunha and Santiago Ascacibar, would have also welcomed the break and the chance to get acquainted with their new teammates.
So, with new players, a new manager, and a break from the pressure of the Bundesliga, Hertha Berlin looked set to come back better than ever. And they did.
A Stunning Return to Action
They returned with a bang by beating Hoffenheim 3-0. They then went onto beat their rivals, Union Berlin, 4-0. The Berlin derby win was particularly impressive when considering they had finished the game as 1-0 losers in the earlier reverse fixture. The derby win acted as a statement in the capital and forced people to take notice of Hertha Berlin’s sudden turn of form. Viewers from home began to notice the ability of the likes of Matheus Cunha; the former Leipzig man possesses the dribbling ability of a world-class player, taking on and beating all comers that have attempted to stop him one on one so far. And it was the latest game where this really showed.
Hertha were 2-1 down to RB Leipzig with 10 minutes to go before Cunha went past Ademola Lookman whose swipe for the ball could only find the wingers leg. Krzysztof Piatek went onto convert the penalty thanks to fellow new signing, Cunha, earning the spot-kick. The game ended 2-2, giving Leipzig plenty to work on. But, the fact is, Hertha Berlin didn’t look out of place against one of the big boys of the Bundesliga; instead they matched them all the way and could have come away with three points. This is perhaps a sign of things to come as Hertha begin to change their fortunes.
Out of nowhere, Hertha Berlin have sprung into life. And with Labbadia in charge, new signings flourishing and the financial backing of the owners behind them, they look ready for an unexpected rise to the top six.
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