The sun beat down mercilessly, the sky not a single cloud. In the summer training camp of Hertha BSC in Brandenburg Neuruppin the sweltering heat, but only a potential reason for this is, that it was hard to keep permanent track of them. Another was due to the fact that the accompanying line-up of the Berlin Bundesliga club reached almost the strength of a Football team; more than 30 footballers of all ages went on, at the time, every day on the field. This corresponded in turn to the course, the Pal Dardai since his assumption of office taken and consistently pursued: Under the Hungary Hertha rejuvenated the squad year in, year out, and tested according to hard.

Meanwhile, the commitment of Berlin’s numerous players, of which a great future is predicted and which will be keep one day, probably hard to, if financially lucrative offers flutter into the house-for example, the (currently injured) and Central defender Duo Karim Rekik and Niklas Stark, both 23 years young. Or Valentino Lazaro, the versatile wing Speedster in the March 23-years-old. Or the gifted from the club’s own Academy with Maximilian Mittelstädt (21), Arne Maier or Palko Dardai, both 19. Maier is even regarded as one of the biggest talents in German football and was part of last season in the A-youth, the German champion was. Herthas Manager, Michael is not talking without reason, by a “very exciting team”.

With all the legitimate Pride of this team is worn currently, however, established and experienced players; the Old lady relies to some extent on the older folks. Also this Saturday, the away game against relegation-threatened VfB Stuttgart (15.30 clock, live on Sky), coach Dardai confidence in the power of the experience. Why should he not do it?

captain Vedad Ibisevic against his former club, the 100. Bundesliga game at Hertha Jersey will contest, is also true in the more advanced athlete the age of 34 years with great reliability; eight goals in 16 games make him the most dangerous of the Berlin players. On the other side of the field, where goals can be prevented, it is not different: Rune Jarstein has Long been a safe return of the crew; in Stuttgart, the Norwegians could stay for the third Time in a row without conceding a goal – it would be a Premiere in Jarsteins Berlin time.

motivated To the tips of the toes. Berlin midfielder Per Skjelbred (right) today there is a use for VfB Stuttgart…photo: AFP

the Chance, with Fabian Lustenberger; Herthas senior professional, once because of its versatility of Lucien Favre obliged, after the failure of the Duo Rekik/Strong for weeks, a formidable defense-in-chief, regardless of the means in addition to man. Although Salomon Kalou is in Stuttgart, Germany because of the aftermath of a tear wound on the instep. How big is the trust in his most popular is the offensive player who demonstrated, however, a statement Dardais from this week. If he had a stomach ache, Kalou, despite the lack of training practice, was asked the Trainer. “Solomon can play, if he has not even trained,” said Dardai.

One of the more experienced players that are so far rather rare in this season and – just like Lustenberger and Ibisevic are in the last year of the contract with Hertha, Per Skjelbred. The Norwegian is a symbol of the team spirit by the Berliners; in spite of its manageable minutes of the game he never complains publicly, and was, as he was needed: in The 2:0 victory over FC Bayern about Skjelbred was quite surprising in the first Eleven, and showed a strong performance.

After the failure of Marko Grujics is Skjelbred in addition to Ondrej Duda and Vladimir Darida one of three potential Aufrückern for the game at VfB. About his new role in the Team Skjelbred has already said in the summer: “For us older players, it means the rejuvenation on every case: We have to show the kid what is okay and what is not. That is our duty, as experienced footballers; the Junior is a bit correct, not only on the court but also in life.“

The experienced guard was also apparently issued for the run-up to Christmas, ambitious goals and seven points from the three remaining matches in Stuttgart, Leverkusen and Augsburg, and three more than is commonly from Dardai hopes. “If this works, I’ll give a dinner for the whole team,” promises to be the coach, “and I would very much like to do.” In return, the measure would be the players well, no matter which Semester they belong to.