 Dear readers,
my old club Hertha BSC mastered their task well in the 2. Bundesliga last season and got themselves back into the top flight at the first time of asking. The first priority for any promoted side of course has to be ensuring as early as possible that they're going to stay there. The players and management will doubtless be setting themselves the target of steering quickly away from the bottom and, if possible, towards a solid mid-table position. I think the team are well capable of doing that.
A good start into the campaign is very important in that regard, but Nürnberg, the Matchday 1 visitors to the Olympiastadion, were one of the real surprise packages last time around. They will take to the pitch in confident mood, and it's going to be an interesting encounter.
The same applies to the game at Hannover two weeks later. The 96ers have to show that their performance last season was no fluke. All-in-all, the start for Hertha could have been easier, but it could have been tougher as well. Personally, I'd hold off on drawing any early conclusions until the first five games are in the bag. In Maik Franz, Andreas Ottl and Thomas Kraft, Hertha have signed up three players who will genuinely strengthen them. Thomas Kraft has a few good games with FC Bayern behind him already. Maik Franz brings leadership qualities to the team, and he's the type who leads by example. You always need a player like that. And Andreas Ottl has gained a lot of experience with Bayern and will without doubt be able to help the team in the middle of the park.
Up front though, I think the management should be looking to bring someone else on board. In principle, the "Old Lady" has good forwards at her disposal, although the cause was helped last season by the relative lack of injuries. On top of that, the Bundesliga is a big step up from the second flight and we still have to see how the likes of Pierre-Michel Lasogga adapt. He came on fantastically in 2010-11, but this will be a different kettle of fish altogether. He'll need to dig deep and prove himself all over again.
I'm hopeful anyway that Hertha will be able to play to their strengths and continue to demonstrate the refreshing brand of attacking football that took them back up.
Yours,
Marko Rehmer
Marko Rehmer was born in 1972 and started out at 1. FC Union in the east of what was then a divided Berlin. In 1997 he moved to Hansa Rostock, a top-flight outfit at the time, and two years later returned to Berlin, this time to play for Hertha BSC. He stayed there till 2005, racking up 107 Bundesliga appearances, before moving to Eintracht Frankfurt for the last two years of his career. Rehmer played 35 times for Germany and was part of the squad that finished runners-up at the 2002 World Cup. A fully-qualified coach, Rehmer is currently setting up a players' agency. Champions Dortmund face HSV in Season Opener Opening match: Champion BVB against HSV An attractive curtain-raiser, negotiable first assignments for the two promoted clubs and an old-time classic in Munich: The 49th season of the Bundesliga promises thrills galore right from the off. Champions Borussia Dortmund get the action underway on Friday August the 5th with an evening game at home to Hamburger SV. "It's an exciting game to start things off. HSV are a club with a long tradition, who fell short of expectations last season. We had a couple of high-octane meetings last time around, so it's going to be interesting", Dortmund sporting director Michael Zorc said. For HSV coach Michael Oenning, the trip to the Signal Iduna Park is "a heck of a start...under floodlights at BVB. We know what we can expect."
There is plenty more to look forward in the eight matches that follow over the weekend. One of the Sunday games pits Bayern München against their great rivals from the 1970s, Borussia Mönchengladbach. Promoted FC Augsburg get their first-ever taste of Bundesliga action against SC Freiburg and rapid-fire returnees Hertha BSC play host to 1. FC Nürnberg. VfB Stuttgart against DFB Cup winners Schalke 04 meanwhile is a meeting of two sides eager to improve radically on last season's league showing.
Werder Bremen are at home to 1.FC Kaiserslautern, who ended 2010-11 in such barnstorming form, while 1. FSV Mainz welcome Bayer Leverkusen to their new home at the Coface Arena. The league runners-up will themselves take to the pitch there with a new coach, Robin Dutt, and, in Andre Schürrle, one of Mainz's own star names last season. Matchday 1 in overview:
Borussia Dortmund - Hamburger SV (Fr. 20:30)
SV Werder Bremen - 1. FC Kaiserslautern (Sa. 15:30)
Hannover 96 - 1899 Hoffenheim (Sa. 15:30)
1. FSV Mainz 05 - Bayer 04 Leverkusen (Sa. 15:30)
VfB Stuttgart - FC Schalke 04 (Sa. 15:30)
1. FC Köln - VfL Wolfsburg (Sa. 15:30)
FC Augsburg - SC Freiburg (Sa. 15:30)
Hertha BSC - 1. FC Nürnberg (Sa. 15:30)
FC Bayern München - Borussia Mönchengladbach (Sa. 15:30) Highlights. Ruhr district derby in the Supercup In action: Lukasz Piszczek (l.) and Jefferson Farfan A couple of weeks before the league action gets under way, there is a pre-season appetiser with added bite in store as champions Borussia Dortmund go head-to-head with DFB Cup winners Schalke 04 in the Supercup. Thanks to a new regulation stipulating the game be played at the ground of the cup holders, rather than on neutral territory, the Royal Blues will enjoy home advantage against their great Ruhr district rivals.
For Schalke, it is the chance to make amends for two blemishes on their early-season record last time out: On Matchday 4 they lost 3-1 at home to Dortmund (they are unbeaten at the Veltins Arena since), while in last year's Supercup they also came off second-best, going down 2-0 to double-winners Bayern München in Augsburg. Statistically, Ralf Rangnick's men are up against it insofar as BVB have yet to taste defeat in this particular competition. At the moment, Borussia are joint-top of the Supercup-winning chart with FC Bayern on three wins apiece - theirs coming in 1989, 1995 and 1996. Victory in their neighbours' back yard would thus be doubly sweet, putting them out in front on their own. Incidentally, the trophy was played as the DFB Supercup between 1987 and 1996 before being resurrected as the DFL Supercup in 2010. Schalke may give a run-out in this one to former FSV Mainz 05 stalwarts Christian Fuchs and Lewis Holtby, the former freshly signed and the latter back after a loan spell. Goalkeeper Ralf Fährmann, signed from Eintracht Frankfurt, is no stranger to the Veltins Arena either, having come up through the Royal Blue youth ranks. BVB have been strengthening their ranks as well, signing midfielders Ilkay Gündogan (Nürnberg) and Ivan Perisic (Club Brugge) among others. Augsburg preparing for battle against the drop Early start: Bundesliga debutants FC Augsburg In one respect, newly-promoted FC Augsburg have already got 2011-12 off to a flying start: The team from Bavarian Swabia were the first of the Bundesliga's top-flight outfits to start training for the season ahead. Some 2,000 fans - a club record for a practice session - turned out to watch them on their first day back at the Rosenaustadion.
While sporting director Andreas Rettig insisted that this was simultaneously the start of Augsburg's battle against relegation, the team under Dutch coach Jos Luhukay - immortalised after last season's triumph on the DVD "Jos we can!" - are nevertheless hoping to be good for a surprise or two, despite the relatively modest financial resources at their disposal. Following the departures of Lukas Sinkiewicz, Ibrahim Traore, Moritz Leitner and Sören Bertram, the most recognisable faces in their squad are those of striker Michael Thurk and goalkeeper Simon Jentzsch. Among the six new players Augsburg have brought in is one with a surname familiar to football fans - Davids. And indeed, Lorenzo Davids, signed from NEC Nijmegen, is a cousin of the famous former Dutch international Edgar. "Up till now I've followed the Bundesliga on TV and seen the great atmosphere generated by the fans in packed-out stadiums. And now I've got the chance to play there myself", says Davids. For Augsburg's other new signings it is a similar story: Third Division top scorer Patrick Mayer (1. FC Heidenheim) has as little Bundesliga experience as Dominic Peitz, fresh from 1. FC Union Berlin, or up-and-coming prospect Akaki Gogia, who is on loan from VfL Wolfsburg.
Defender Sebastian Langkamp, who moved to FCA from Karlsruher SC, and Sascha Mölders, late of FSV Frankfurt, are two players who have had a taste of life in the top flight - all of 21 appearances between them. Simon Jentzsch (241 games) is the team's Bundesliga old hand with something to spare. It is to the hunger of youth, anyway, that the club are looking. Rettig has already spoken of the "Augsburg way", citing the likes of Hannover, Mainz and Freiburg as role models; three clubs who exceeded all expectations last season with comparatively low-cost squads.
The leap into the top flight has unleashed an incredible wave of new-found enthusiasm for the game in Augsburg, a city that counts Helmut Haller and Bernd Schuster among its own footballing sons. Club membership doubled in the weeks following promotion. "It's a truly impressive development", said Rettig. Now though, the focus is firmly on a season in which survival is the overriding priority. Heynckes "back home" at FC Bayern Third stint in Munich: Jupp Heynckes For the third time, Jupp Heynckes has taken over the coaching helm at Bayern München. "I feel as if I've come home again", the 66-year-old veteran said after training for the upcoming season had got under way at the club's Säbener Straße complex. His brief opening speech to the players had already borne testimony to a special connection with FC Bayern, as he told them, "you can't put the feeling into words. It's an emotional thing. It just feels fantastic to be here in Munich, for me this the greatest club of all, the absolute non plus ultra."
Heynckes knows from first-hand experience exactly what is expected of him in the Bavarian capital. "The team have to get back up to the level they were at the season before last. We have to set the bar high, and we will", he said when taking over the job, simultaneously vowing that, "This FC Bayern will be quite a different proposition from last year's FC Bayern, rest assured." His latest term in charge, after 1987 to 1991 and the caretaker stint in 2009, once again poses "a huge challenge."
Changed days indeed, given that Heynckes had announced he was packing it all in two years ago: "I was already in early retirement." The five-week interim tenure at FC Bayern though had rekindled his "appetite for the top-level game." And thus it came that, after two years with Bayer Leverkusen, he agreed to extend his career for a further two in Munich, through to 2013. "When Bayern München come calling, it's an offer you're glad to accept." For the pre-season, Heynckes promised his players "a lot of hard work and an intensive programme, aimed at getting us back into pole position." The team needs to be in peak condition for the start of the season, all the more so in view of the Champions League qualifiers, he stressed: "FC Bayern have to be aiming to take part in the Champions League."
As far as the squad goes, things are shaping up nicely. "We've brought in some really good players. There will be one or two others arriving, then we'll be in very good shape on the personnel front." An extra central defender and a holding midfielder are the top priorities for the coach. Already on the books meanwhile are Germany keeper Manuel Neuer from Schalke 04, former Schalke right back Rafinha, back in the Bundesliga after a year with FC Genoa, 2. Bundesliga top scorer Nils Petersen from Energie Cottbus and 19-year-old attacking midfielder Takashi Usami, signed from Japan's Gamba Osaka on loan. Sporting director Christian Nerlinger believes the club has "prepared the ground very well", on top of which Heynckes, "has outstanding qualities as a coach and as a person. I'm confident this will be a very fruitful joint-venture."
CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge believes so too. Asked whether Heynckes, who led Bayern to the title back in 1989 and 1990, might now be slightly long in the tooth for the high-pressure post in Munich, Rummenigge responded, "It would be a big mistake to believe that this is an old gent coming here to wind down his career in a fun way." Stanislawski at Hoffenheim: "Our every heart's desire desire" New challenge at Hoffenheim: Holger Stanislawski A true son of Hamburg and a cult figure both as a player and coach at FC St. Pauli, Holger Stanislawski opted for altogether more sedate surroundings when he signed up with TSG 1899 Hoffenheim. The 41-year-old head coach bade a tearful farewell to St. Pauli last May and spoke of a "radical change of wallpaper" during his subsequent unveiling at the club from the Kraichgau.
That was an aspect he was underplaying after the first training session with his new charges however, saying with a smile that, "Hamburg has a few more people living there, a few more streets and traffic lights, that's all." He had not constantly sought out the bright lights at his old stomping ground anyway, he explained, adding that his new club were based in "a really fantastic area. We have our every heart's desire here."
Not that there will be any time either for missing the bright lights or admiring the landscape in the weeks ahead, during which Stanislawski and his assistant Andre Trulsen will be putting in 15-16 hour daily shifts at 1899's Zuzenhausen training facility. "We'll just be going back to the hotel to sleep", said the coach, who has put the search for his own "cosy little space" on hold until the end of the pre-season preparations. Expectations are high of the former defensive stalwart who spent 18 years all-told at St. Pauli. Those in charge at Hoffenheim believe he is just the man to shape a team that can be successful on the park and ever more popular off it as well.
"He comes across as completely natural. He's totally down-to-earth and doesn't harbour unrealistic expectations, and his enthusiasm is infectious", said club patron Dietmar Hopp, for whom Stanislawski is also the ideal coach because of his ability to "have a great relationship with the team while maintaining the necessary level of respect." Sporting director Ernst Tanner is equally convinced that "he's striking the right chord with the players. There's a lot of positive feedback."
Whether that remains the case of course, will inevitably be dependent on the side's performance in the Bundesliga and the first aim is to improve on last season's eleventh-place finish. "You can certainly say we'd be looking to move up the standings a bit. It's ambitious, but if we get into the top half of the table we'll be satisfied", said Tanner. To that end, Stanislawski has stressed the importance of "getting to know the people at the club and its structures, in order for us to be able to hit the ground running."
Thus far, Fabian Johnson and Sven Schipplock are the club's only new signings for the coming campaign. According to Tanner, Hoffenheim are still looking around for a "young keeper" and a "holding midfielder who's strong in the air." Stanislawski meanwhile is "very relaxed" with regard to the personnel situation. "We don't have to hit the market at the moment, because we already have an exceptionally high-quality squad." INTERVIEW "I'm coming back to a big club, and a great one" Back in blue: Lewis Holtby Having enjoyed a tremendous season on loan at 1. FSV Mainz 05, during which he even made the breakthrough into the German national team, Lewis Holtby is gearing up for a fresh start at Schalke 04. In interview, the 20-year-old attacking midfielder talks about the early days of his return to the Royal Blues. Lewis Holtby, after a year-and-a-half out on loan you're back at Schalke again. How have the first few weeks gone in your home-from-home? Lewis Holtby: I'm glad to be back on the old stomping ground and it's been a very good start. But the past year-and-a-half has been every bit as positive for me and has brought me a long way. And now I'm back at Schalke with self-belief and more experienced as well. Has settling in been made easier by the fact that your Mainz teammate last season, Christian Fuchs, has moved to Schalke as well? Holtby: Christian and I are good friends for sure, we get on really well off the pitch too. But I'm an outgoing kind of person and can integrate quickly, and anyway the interaction with the team was great right from the start. And I know the likes of Benedikt Höwedes and Christoph Moritz from before, and we get on well too. Was it difficult to leave Mainz behind after such an outstanding season there? Holtby: Of course, because I had a really memorable year in Mainz with the coaching team and the players. It was an absolute picture-book year for a side that started without any particularly high hopes and went on to play so well. But it was a parting of mixed emotions, because with Schalke I'm coming back to a big club, and a great one. We have a very good team and a coaching staff that can help us develop. How does your new coach, Ralf Rangnick, differ from Thomas Tuchel at Mainz? Holtby: Ralf Rangnick has more experience, by default; that apart, it's difficult for a player my age to judge. I actually notice the similarities more: They're both very meticulous and they both want to better themselves as well as the team. For young players in particular, having that sort of coach opens up all kinds of opportunities. And how is the mood within the squad? Holtby: Very good. After three daily sessions at the training camp, obviously you sometimes just drop straight into bed. But the right chemistry's there; we all have a lot of fun together, but we have a common goal as well. We want to lay the foundations you need as a team to compete on three fronts, in the league, the cup and in Europe. League Round-Up Hannover sign Pander, "Brazzo" back in Bundesliga From Schalke to Hannover: Christian Pander Pander joins HannoverHannover 96 have signed left back Christian Pander from DFB Cup holders Schalke 04 on a one-year contract. "I'm looking forward to the added quality Christian will bring into our squad. I also know he's a player of great character and I'm sure he'll fit in perfectly here", said 96ers coach Mirko Slomka, who coached the 27-year-old two-time Germany international during their days together at Schalke. Pander, who has been plagued for years by recurrent knee problems, only made four appearances for Schalke last season and moves to Hannover on a free transfer. Swedish defender for GladbachBorussia Mönchengladbach have strengthened their back row with the acquisition of Oscar Wendt from Danish champions FC Copenhagen. The 25-year-old Swedish international (16 caps) joins the Foals on a free transfer and has been given a three-year contract. "Oscar Wendt played an important role for FC Copenhagen in the title race and in the Champions League. He had a lot of interesting offers and we're delighted he decided to join us", sporting director Max Eberl said. Stuttgart sign KvistVfB Stuttgart have added Danish international William Kvist to their books. Kvist, 26, arrives from FC Copenhagen on a contract valid through to 2015, forgoing the opportunity to play in the Champions League this coming season. "After such a long spell in Copenhagen, I wanted to try something different", said the all-round midfield talent, who had been with the current Danish champions since 2004, racking up 264 games (13 goals) and six league titles. A deep-lying midfielder by nature, Kvist has no problem with taking on a role of responsibility, noting that anyone who has seen him play for Copenhagen, "would have heard me as well, out on the pitch." Salihamidzic and Klich run with the WolvesThe restructuring at VfL Wolfsburg continues apace, with Hasan Salihamidzic and Mateusz Klich the latest arrivals. 34-year-old Salihamidzic, who played for Bayern München from 1998 until 2007, switches from Serie A and Juventus on a free transfer and a one-year deal. Polish playmaker Klich has signed up from MKS Cracovia on a three-year contract. "Hasan's a player who's operated at the highest level in a number of positions over the course of his career. So it's a signing that will broaden our options over the coming season. I'm confident his maturity and experience will do our team good", VfL head coach Felix Magath commented. Patrick Ochs (Eintracht Frankfurt) and Srdjan Lakic (1. FC Kaiserslautern) are two further new faces in the Wolves' pack for the campaign ahead. Hertha BSC sign FranzBundesliga returnees Hertha BSC have beefed up their back row with the acquisition of Maik Franz from Eintracht Frankfurt. The 29-year-old defensive all-rounder moves to the capital club on a free transfer and a contract valid until June 2014. "Maik's a very versatile, uncompromising and enormously experienced defender. He's a good bloke as well, who'll fit right into our team without a doubt", Hertha sporting director Michael Preetz said. Baumgartlinger and Ujah join MainzFSV Mainz 05 have signed midfielder Julian Baumgartlinger from Austria Wien and striker Anthony Ujah from Norway's Lilleström SK, both on contracts through to 2015. Ujah, 20, bagged 27 goals in his 36 league outings for Lilleström, while Baumgartlinger last season established his place in the Austrian national team. "Julian Baumgartlinger is the perfect player for us, he can play in the centre or as half back. He's impressed us with his power, his aggression and the legwork he puts in, and he's got a great tactical brain as well. With the qualities he has, he'll further improve the standard of our team", FSV coach Thomas Tuchel commented. HSV get BrumaHamburger SV have added another Chelsea FC player to their ranks, securing the services of defender Jeffrey Bruma for the coming season. The 19-year-old Dutch international defender arrives on an initial loan deal, with the option to remain for a further year. Bruma becomes the fourth player on Chelsea's books to hire on at HSV, alongside Gökhan Töre, Jacopo Sala and Michael Mancienne. Zieler extends at HannoverHannover 96 have secured the services of Ron-Robert Zieler for the longer term. The 22-year-old keeper signed an extended deal ahead of schedule, tying him to the 96ers until 2015. "Ron-Robert has come on tremendously over the past season. The contract extension, which concludes some very positive talks, is a sign of how highly we rate a young keeper of extraordinary quality", Hannover sporting director Jörg Schmadtke said. Hecking staying on at Nürnberg1. FC Nürnberg have agreed terms on an early two-year contract extension with head coach Dieter Hecking, through to June 2014. "We value the quality and methodology of Dieter Hecking's coaching, which is reflected in a very good working relationship", board member Martin Bader said. Hecking joined Nürnberg in December 2009 and kept them in the Bundesliga by way of the play-offs in his first season in charge. Last team out, he guided der Club to sixth place. The new contract is not valid for the 2. Bundesliga. Wolf bolsters Bremen defenceWerder Bremen have responded to an ever-deepening injury crisis by signing Andreas Wolf from 1. FC Nürnberg. The 29-year-old defender heads north on a two-year contract with an option for a further season. "I want to take the next step as a footballer and assume a responsible role in a young team", the former FCN skipper said. With Per Mertesacker, Naldo Sebastian Prödl and Sebastian Boenisch all already sidelined, Bremen's defensive woes took another turn for the worse recently when they announced a wearisome knee injury would keep Mikael Silvestre out of action as well for several months. Schedule For July
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23.07.11 Supercup FC Schalke 04 - Borussia Dortmund |
Auf Wiedersehen für heute :-) |
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