Hertha BSC Berlin
August 8, 2006
Youngsters Kevin Prince-Boateng and Ashkan Dejagah were regulars in the starting line-up, while Patrick Ebert and Chinedu Ede also made contributions. Their development, together with an excellent first season half by striker Marko Pantelic, has Berlin dreaming of a Champions League spot.
Playmaker Yildiray Bastürk is returning from injury. If he stays fit, Hertha could go on an extended run. But Hertha have a history of not living up to expectations, when the pressure is on, and their teenagers will have to prove they can keep their form over the course of a whole season. They also need to improve on the road.
Having remained largely dormant on the winter transfer market, the squad is a bit too thin to crack the top three. But with a bit of luck, this team on the rise should be able to defend its position among the Bundesliga's five best clubs.
The Roster
Goal: Christian Fiedler, Kevin Stuhr-Ellegaard
Defense: Robert Müller, Amadeus Wallschläger, Arne Friedrich, Dick van Burik, Josip Simunic, Dennis Cagara, Sofian Chahed, Malik Fathi, Christopher Samba
Midfield: Patrick Ebert, Gilberto, Yildiray Bastürk, Pál Dardai, Andreas Neuendorf, Kevin-Prince Boateng, Christian Müller, Patrick Ebert, Mineiro
Strikers: Marko Pantelic, Christian Gimenez, Srdjan Lakic, Ellery Cairo, Ashkan Dejagah, Chinedu Ede
(as of January 2007)