Hertha BSC Berlin
“The Prince is back”: Boss Boateng regulates the matter of staying up
Felix Magath gives instructions to Kevin-Prince Boateng during the game
© Christian Charisius / DPA
Kevin-Prince Boateng was a decisive factor in Hertha BSC Berlin staying up. Coach Felix Magath gave him maximum freedom on the pitch and even discussed the line-up with the experienced professional — it paid off.
In the end, the prince dropped to his knees, his forehead was on the lawn and he slapped his hands two or three times on the green of Hamburg’s Volksparkstadion. It seemed like a gesture of gratitude. Done. Hertha BSC Berlin had avoided relegation in the last game after a disaster season and Kevin-Prince Boateng had been a decisive factor. “I gave it my all,” said the midfielder.
It was perhaps coach Felix Magath’s most important decision before the relegation second leg that he made the 35-year-old an extended hand on the pitch. Boateng repaid the trust. He was present, directing and cheering the fans on with gestures again and again. Boateng was only over in the 90th minute after the coach had substituted him. The veteran hadn’t played a game on the pitch for years, which was one of the punchlines of the evening.
In the first leg, the coach left Boateng on the bench. Why is not exactly known. Maybe it was actually fitness reasons or it was the little dispute between the two edgy characters in the days leading up to the game. Maybe Magath really played poker to use a rested Boateng in the decisive second leg: “This relegation consisted of two games. I thought that I couldn’t be sure if Prince could play 90 minutes on Friday and today. Today was more important for me “Magath said afterwards.
If all this followed a plan, then it worked perfectly. Compared to the first leg, Hertha showed a different face in Hamburg. Driven by Boateng, the Berliners appeared self-confident, aggressive and strong. After the superior performance in the first leg and the 1-0 win, HSV seemed surprised and overwhelmed. Of course, Dedryck Boyata’s early lead in the 4th minute played into Hertha’s hands, but the team kept the tension going for the entire 94 minutes. Marvin Plattenhardt’s beautiful flickering goal after a free kick from the side in the 63rd minute secured the league and Hertha didn’t let anything burn even in the heated final phase.
It was a satisfaction for Kevin-Prince Boateng
For Boateng, the performance was a satisfaction. After all, it was considered a discontinued model. He embodied like no other the crisis of the club in which he grew up as a youth player. Injury prone, unfit, old. But in the end he was perfectly fit and once again showed his class. “I’m in a good mood, even if you didn’t always see it, I’ve been back, exactly when it matters, I’ll be back,” he said. “You could write: The Prince is back,” he added.
Sports director Fredi Bobic naturally emphasized that he knew before the season that the midfielder didn’t play many games, but at some point a factor will be – and “he has delivered”. Bobic has every reason to praise Boateng. If Hertha had been relegated, he would have become a laughing stock in football Germany. Hertha is rightly considered a prime example of how millions of euros are wasted through incompetence and exaggerated claims.
But Boateng’s performance remains as the defining story of the successful relegation. Born in Berlin, Boateng not only conducted on the pitch, but was largely responsible for the line-up, which was another point of the evening. “Huge respect for the coach, what a sensitivity he has. It was clear he’s a special guy, I’m a special guy. It can either clash or we get along better – and we get along better. He gives me a free hand given, he asked me who do you see better in which position, we did a great job together, not many coaches do that,” said Boateng.
Felix Magath: Thank God I listened to him
Magath confirmed the story. “Prince provided the team and thank God I listened to him.” Magath also praised his assistants Mark Fotheringham and Werner Leuthard. Magath: “He had gotten Plattenhardt fit. Unfortunately, that wouldn’t have been possible here either without Platte.”
Whether it was the last game for Boateng in the Hertha jersey is open. His contract expires. In front of the “Sky” microphone he said: I still feel like playing football. We’ll sit down and see what’s going on. I always want to help the team, no matter where. But now it’s quiet, I need three or four days to recover and also to celebrate a bit.”
Sources: DPA, “picture“, “table football“, “sky“”