Taking a casual glance at the top of the Bundesliga table, your eye wanders quickly over the expected name at the very summit, Bayern Munich. No surprises there, you think to yourself. It would be more of a shock if they weren’t there, in all honesty. Next comes Borussia Dortmund, who have returned to their seemingly rightful place chasing down the Bavarians after a disaster of a 2014-15 season that really was an exception rather than a rule. Then in third, is... Hertha BSC?
It would be more expected if the season were still young, but 16 games into the 2015-16 Bundesliga season Die Alte Dame sit pretty in a Champions League spot. The serial yo-yo team that has in recent times shifted constantly between mid-table mediocrity, relegation and then promotion from the 2.Bundesliga has seemingly changed its stripes. While the likes of Schalke, VfL Wolfsburg and Bayer Leverkusen have routinely shot themselves in the foot, the capital club has gone at its business very efficiently, and truly deserve to be in the position they are in now.
Dardai has been a key part of the success
Hertha’s rise can be traced back to the appointment of former player Pal Dardai as manager in February, after the much-liked Jos Luhukay was fired with Die Alte Dame very much in danger of being relegated. Sporting Director Michael Preetz took a huge risk in appointing the then 38-year-old Hungarian, swinging the pendulum completely to the opposite side of the spectrum from the decision he made the last time Die Alte Dame were facing relegation in 2012.
On that occasion Preetz handed the reins of the team over to the immensely experienced Otto Rehhagel, but the only result turned out to be relegation via the play-offs. So, clearly, another approach was needed. But the fact that Dardai only had experience in managing the Hertha U15 side up to that point as well as having been appointed interim coach of the Hungarian national team just made the decision to hand him the managerial job even more odd and unexpected.
However, Dardai isn’t just any former player – He is a true club legend. Having made his debut for Die Alte Dame in 1997 and finishing his playing career with Hertha Berlin II in 2012, the Hungarian knows the club inside out and can identify with the fans. In his own words, he reassured everyone that he’ll “Work to the death. I have blue blood and a Hungarian heart”. His appointment has ended up being a masterstroke, with his team and players looking unrecognizable from the nervous and lethargic unit that limped through games under Luhukay. The thing about Dardai that has been so effective is the fact that the players know exactly what he expects from them.
Weiser and Kalou have been in tremendous form this season. (Image credit: Getty)
The coach has made a big impact
Probably the best example of this is Salomon Kalou, who was signed last season amid much fanfare, but only ended up scoring six goals throughout the campaign. A player clearly not being the best he can be, Dardai criticized the Ivorian and told him some home truths, which made Kalou realize that he needed to step up. “He’s a hard person, because he is honest. You need to tolerate hearing the truth. He tells you exactly what you lack. When there is only harmony, you don’t achieve anything in football. He has the right to do that; he’s the boss, and as players we should want to improve ourselves. Pal Dardai managed it; he pushes me to the limit.”
"I'm half player, half coach," Dardai claims. "I won't change and I don't want to change. I thrive on honesty". The turnaround in Kalou’s play has been clear for all to see, with the Ivorian having netted 10 goals in 16 appearances in all competitions so far this season, as well as being the Bundesliga’s most prolific scorer away from home with 7 goals on the road.
Shrewd summer signings
But another major aspect in Hertha’s rise this season has been shrewd business in the summer transfer window, with a number of quality signings having been made that actually improve the squad at reasonable cost. Vladimir Darida, purchased from relegated SC Freiburg for only €3,8 million, has been a revelation in the Berlin engine room with his lung-bursting performances – The Czech international leads the league in average distance covered per game.
At the top, the loan of Vedad Ibisevic has not only given Die Alte Dame more of a cutting edge, but also reinvigorated a quality striker who had stagnated over the past few years. The Bosnian has chipped in with 7 goals, including three braces in his last 7 games.
Hertha have also added some talented youngsters to their squad in Mitchell Weiser, who was signed on a free from Bayern in the summer, and Niklas Stark, who was purchased from 1.FC Nürnberg. Weiser, in particular, has made a real impact with his versatility – Laying on four assists and a goal already while holding his own against the likes of Ilkay Gündogan with his overall performances according to kicker’s ratings. Dardai hasn’t been afraid to play his younger players, with John Anthony Brooks and Yanni Regäsel both having impressed when given opportunities. A key to their resurgence has been a much improved defence to go with a strong attack, with only 18 goals conceded after 16 games.
Luck has also been on their side
But another, uncontrollable aspect that has worked in Hertha’s advantage rather than against them for a change has been Lady Luck. Against 1899 Hoffenheim in November, Die Alte Dame couldn't muster a single shot on goal throughout the entire game, but still came away with a 1-0 win thanks to a Eugen Polanski own-goal, while their clash against Leverkusen saw the opposition having to play with only ten men for much of the game after a questionable red card. However, as they say, you make your own luck, and it is no coincidence that things are going well when the team is structured, organized yet still possessing of a certain flair.
The players still have their feet firmly planted on the ground, though, with Darida stating “Nothing changes for us. We do what we've done before and only look at the next game. We're still hungry”. It’s music to the ears of a coach, and with the second half of the season still lying ahead, the capital club certainly will look to keep their form going. The Champions League might be a bridge too far, but Europa League football is there for the taking.
However, some rival fans still believe Hertha haven’t proven they’ve turned a corner quite yet, with one claiming "Don't worry, they'll get into the Europa League and will then be relegated next year. Same as always!"
But this time things really could be different.