Last season, Hertha were the surprise package of the Bundesliga. Towards the end of the season, the capital city club could even afford a quick dream of becoming the Bundesliga champions. Their heroes were: Pantelic, Voronin, Simunic or coach Favre. Things now do not look so rosy. The coach was sacked following a dramatic downward spiral in form. The above-named strikers and classy defender left for pastures new, leaving Hertha rooted to the bottom of the Bundesliga table. We thought it was time to talk to Preetz - Hertha's all-time top scorer, about Saturday's game, the struggle of Bundesliga survival and new signings...
hsv.de: In June you took the reigns vacated by Dieter Hoeneß. Did you in your wildest dreams ever inmagine such a precarious situation in your first year as Hertha manager?
Michael Preetz: We knew full well at Hertha that we would not be able to repeat our table placing of last term this season. We approached this season with a different attitude. I was given financial orders to carry out, so we knew that we faced a tough season. Nobody expected such a precarious situation though. Probably nobody in Germany either.
The club secured the services of Friedhelm Funkel - a man with a lot of experience of relegation battles. He had a very tough start. What are his attributes?
Preetz: He is an experienced, level-headed and proven expert, who has managed to stabilise what was a team with frayed nerves. His ability to remain calm during tough times has rubbed off on our team. Such things are crucial in a city like Berlin and its media.
Hertha were very active during the winter transfer window, signing experienced players like Theofanis Gekas and Levan Kobiashvili. Useful experience to help Hertha fight off relegation?
Preetz: Certainly. We can all see how those signings have stabilised the team.
Hertha have had two goalless draws at home since the winter break, but your fans remain right behind the team. How would you describe them?
Preetz: Why don't you come to our stadium and experience our fans for yourself. They get right behind the team come what may. They sense that their way of doing things is a lot more helpful than other options. The team want to repay that trust and we all have the same goal.
Have you personally changed during your eight months in charge?
Preetz: No, not at all. But they were very emotional intensive months.
How do people react when they see you shopping?
Preetz: Very positively, they all want Hertha to remain in the top flight. Berlin is right behind us.
Right after hanging your playing boots up you moved into management at Hertha. Have you any intention of becoming a coach at some time in the future?
Preetz: No.
Although you were born in Düsselforf, you have lived and breathed Berlin for many years. What is so fascinating about the capital city, and Hertha as a club?
Preetz: Hertha BSC is a tradition-steeped club with enormous potential. Berlin needs a Bundesliga club and Hertha is THE club in Berlin. I owe a lot to Hertha. I grew with the club for years. I want to make things happen at a different level now. Berlin is a unique city in Germany, very lively, varied and still with a laid back way of life. It is great to live in the capital city.
