Hertha BSC Berlin

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Hertha On Verge Of Conca Capture

Hertha Berlin boss Lucien Favre has let it be known that they still plan to bring in at least one more player before the official close of the transfer window, with Fluminese star Dario Conca reported to be the centre of their attention.

According to the latest reports from Germany, team director Dieter Hoeneß flew to Brazil after the 1-1 home draw with Bielefeld on Saturday in the hopes of securing a deal for the 24-year-old, who has evidently been earmarked as a replacement for now ex Hertha star Marcelinho.

"Yes, if all goes well, we will become active in the transfer market this week", Favre told the club's official website, though refused to be drawn on the identities of any specific targets.

It was just this June that Fluminense announced the signing of Dario Conca from River Plate on a deal until 2009.

He was a product of Tigre's youth system before moving to River Plate at the age of 16 in 2000. He only made three full appearances for River before he was loaned out to Universidad Católica in Chile, where he made a name for himself with some impressive performances.

Goal.com - Bundesliga - Hertha On Verge Of Conca Capture

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Simunic Ommission Causes Tension At Hertha

Hertha Berlin defender Patrick Ebert has illicited a €5,000 fine for publicly questioning coach Lucien Favre's decision to not start Josip Simunic last weekend.

The Croatian was a surprise omission from the starting lineup during the 1-1 draw with Arminia Bielefeld on Saturday, which obviously did not sit well with his team-mates, who ran to celebrate their goal with him on the touchline whilst completely ignoring the coach.

Ebert, however, did not exercise the best judgment when he told German channel ARD: "I and the rest of the team do not understand it. The coach picks the team, but he (Simunic) won 88 per cent of his tackles in our last game and it is surprising."

Hertha assistant manager Michael Preetz confirmed that Ebert has been disciplined for his public criticism of the coach by saying: "Patrick will donate an agreed sum to charity."

As for Simunic himself, it looks like he has escaped punishment for venting his frustration with the press.

"Probably even Albert Einstein could not explain why I did not play," he told the the Berliner Kurier. "That really annoyed me and there is no explanation for it, whatever anybody says."

http://www.goal.com/en/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=835309

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Okoronkwo Caves In To Club's Demands

Nigerian forward Solomon Okoronkwo has avoided a major drama with his club Hertha Berlin by directly returning from the Olympic Games in Beijing.

The 21-year-old had said he would be attending a presidential celebration in his native Nigeria to commemorate their silver medal whether his club like it or not, but ultimately thought better of the idea.

The German capital club had threatened to offload Okoronkwo when he seemed prepared to march by his own drummer, and it is unclear now what they will do about the "many inquiries" they claimed to have received for him.

In any case, things are no longer looking as rosy in Berlin as there has been real unrest at the club as a result of coach Lucien Favre's curious decision not to start key defender Josip Simunic for the 1-1 draw with Arminia Bielefeld on Saturday.

The Swiss coach refused to be drawn out on the fallout of his decision, but admitted that the result was decidedly unsatisfactory.

"In the end a single point is of course disappointing. It is a real shame, because we played very well, especially during the first half," he said.

"Their equaliser was a gift from us. We were determined to make it 2-1 after the break, but we somehow forgot how to play together properly. We have to keep a cool head now."

Goal.com - Bundesliga - Okoronkwo Caves In To Club's Demands

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Tricky away games

Hertha BSC have the easier task on paper, taking a 2-0 lead out to Slovenian Cup winners NK Ljubljana.

Hertha coach Lucien Favre has had other issues to sort out in recent days, not least Patrick Ebert's public criticism of the team selection. Favre's response: "That's an internal matter. Such things are unacceptable, but it's been dealt with now."

Rotation time

Josef Simunic, whose absence from the starting eleven against Arminia Bielfeld (1-1) had sparked Ebert's comments, is likely to return for the game against Ljubljana. The Slovenian side are currently bottom of the league, without a win in six games. Favre says he intends to "bring in three or four new players. It's a relief to have some proper competition within the squad at last."

Probable Hertha line-up: Drobny - Chahed, Friedrich, Simunic, Radjabali-Fardi - Lustenberger - Kacar, Cicero, Nicu - Raffael, Chermiti

Referee: Bruno Miguel Duarte Paixao (Portugal)

Bundesliga - Die offizielle Webseite

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Chermiti Injury Blow For Hertha

Hertha Berlin look set to be without the services of striker Amine Chermiti for a number of weeks after he suffered a knee injury in their Uefa Cup tie.

The Tunisian summer signing had to be taken off after only 11 minutes of Hertha’s Uefa Cup win over Interblock Ljubljana on Thursday. The initial suspicion is that he has suffered knee ligament damage.

“We still need to talk to the doctors, but I fear that he’ll be out for eight to ten weeks” said Berlin trainer Lucien Favre.

Hertha also look set to lose Nigerian forward Solomon Okoronkwo, who is poised to leave the club.

“We believe that he will leave us. Perhaps we’ll be able so say a little more on Friday” Hertha manager Dieter Hoeness explained.

Okoronkwo, who has just won the silver medal at the Beijing Olympics, feels that he will have better chances of playing if he were to leave the Olympiastadion club.

Goal.com - Germany - Chermiti Injury Blow For Hertha

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Hertha ease through

Hertha BSC Berlin did what had to be done at home and qualified for the UEFA Cup proper for the tenth time without too much difficulty.

Lucien Favre's side beat Slovenian Cup winners NK Ljubljana 1-0, to wrap up a 3-0 aggregate victory.

Ebert makes it safe

Patrick Ebert scored the only goal of the game from a direct free kick in the third minute. Hertha will find out who they face in the first round (18.9./2.10.) on Friday.

The game was moved from the Olympic stadium to the Jahnsportpark in the east of the city due to to a scheduling clash with a Madonna concert, but the hosts wasted no time settling into their new surroundings. After Ebert hammered them in front with a 25-metre special into the left corner, Hertha squandered a series of early chances to go further in front through Marko Pantelic (6./11./26.) and Ebert (13.).

Raffael goes close

The home side dropped down a gear after the break, perhaps with an eye to Sunday's trip to Bayern München. That allowed Ljubljana to see more of the ball, but they could do little of note with it.

Substitue Raffael came closest to scoring for the Hertha with a couple of long-range shots (64./78.) that went narrowly wide. At the other end, home keeper Jaroslav Drobny foiled an effort by Martin Pregelj in the 79th minute - Ljubljana's single goalscoring opportunity up to that point.

Bundesliga - Die offizielle Webseite

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2008/09 UEFA Cup first round
Team named first at home first (reversals tbc)
1st leg: 18 September
2nd leg: 2 October

Hertha BSC Berlin (GER) v Saint Patrick's Athletic FC (IRL)

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Bundesliga 2008/09, Matchday 3 (PREVIEW):
Bayern Munich – Hertha Berlin

The first Sunday fixture sees Bayern Munich hosting Hertha Berlin at the Allianz Arena in a repeat of Bayern’s final match of last season. That afternoon was quite a party for the Bavarians, and they will be hoping to be celebrating their first win of the season this weekend.

After two consecutive draws, Bayern need a win to keep the critics off their backs. Martin Demichelis is poised to return to the heart of the Bayern defence, whereas Lukas Podolski will be hoping for his first start of the season in attack alongside Luca Toni.

Van Bommel is suspended following his red card last week and will be replaced by Tim Borowski. Franck Ribéry is still out injured as is Hamit Altintop. New signing Massimo Oddo is not in contention.

Hertha will be looking to throw a spanner in the works at the Allianz Arena after their midweek Uefa Cup win.

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Hertha Hoping Bayern Keep Misfiring

Hertha general manager Dieter Hoeness is hopeful that his side will pull off a result away to Bayern Munich on Sunday, though he admitted to being worried that the record German champions will wake up after their slumbering start to the season.

The German capital club have mixed omens going into the game as it is 31 long years since they have last won against Bayern, though also a full seven competitive matches since they have last tasted defeat.

"The team has proved it is on a good path and there is justified hope that they can hang in there against a big-name opponent," said Hoeness. "But Bayern have a very strong team so it will not be easy to come up with something there."

"We have to go to the limit and hurt Bayern", he added.

"Bayern will find their rhythm at some point. I hope it won't happen against us.“

"If we make chances and use them, we might just pull off a win," added Hertha Berlin boss Lucien Favre, who will be missing Pal Dardai, Christian Fiedler and their version of Lucio.

Probable Line-up:

Hertha: Drobny - Chahed, Friedrich, Simunic, Stein - Lustenberger - Ebert, Kacar, Cicero - Raffael, Pantelic

Goal.com - Bundesliga - Hertha Hoping Bayern Keep Misfiring

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Bayern Munich 4 - 1 Hertha BSC

12' [1 - 0] L. Toni
54' [2 - 0] P. Lahm
56' [3 - 0] B. Schweinsteiger (pen.)
70' [4 - 0] M. Klose (pen.)
84' [4 - 1] M. Pantelic

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Nigerian leaves Hertha for Saturn

Striker seals Russian move

Hertha Berlin striker Solomon Okoronkwo has joined Russian outfit Saturn Ramenskoye.

The Nigerian youngster, who won silver with his national team at the Beijing Olympics, has completed the move for a seven-figure sum, the club confirmed on Sunday.

Okoronkwo will team up with former Berlin coach Jurgen Rober who took over the reins at Saturn last week.

The 21-year-old, who has been handed a three-year contract, made a total of 39 Bundesliga appearances for Hertha and scored four goals.

Sky Sports | Football | Bundesliga | News | Nigerian leaves Hertha for Saturn

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Caicedo set for German move

City striker linked with Bundesliga switch

Manchester City striker Felipe Caicedo is on the brink of a move to Hertha Berlin, skysports.com understands.

The Ecuador international is believed to have flown to Germany to discuss terms with the Bundesliga club over a possible season-long loan deal.

Caicedo has struggled to establish himself at City since arriving from Basel last January.

The 19-year-old has made only 11 appearances for the club and has yet to find the net.

The robust forward is well down the pecking order in Mark Hughes' plans and the City manager is willing to let him move out on loan so that he can get some regular action under his belt.

Hertha are now hoping to finalise a loan deal before the transfer window slams shut at midnight on Monday.

Caicedo will help fill the void left by Solomon Okorokwo's departure to Russian side Saturn.

Sky Sports | Football | Bundesliga | News | Caicedo set for German move

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Hertha Explain Caicedo Snub

Manchester City striker Felipe Caicedo won't be joining Hertha Berlin on loan after all as the German capital club's decided that the chance to sign Liverpool's Andriy Voronin was good an opportunity to pass up.

The under-utiliised Ecuadorian forward appeared all set to sign for Herha ahead of the deadline only for the move to become derailed due to the Berliners taking their interest elsewhere

"This was not a decision against Caicedo, but one for Voronin," assured the Bundesliga side's general manager Dieter Hoeness to the Bild. "His total package just fit."

Caicedo, 19, traveled all the way to Germany for a medical but now faces the prospect of looking from the outside in at City for another season.

Capped 15 times by Ecuador. Caicedo began his European football career with FC Basle before electing to try his luck in the the English Premier League just this past January

Goal.com - Manchester City - Hertha Explain Caicedo Snub

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Hertha BSC 2 - 2 Wolfsburg

1' [0 - 1] R. Costa
57' [1 - 1] G. Kacar
85' [2 - 1] S. Cícero
90' [2 - 2] S. Riether


Pantelic missed a penalty. Not the first time he's missed one.

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Berliners eyeing group phase

[

B]Hertha BSC want to lay the foundation for the UEFA Cup group phase when they take on Irish side St. Patrick's Athletic on Tuesday (18:00).[/b]

Marko Pantelic has something to make up for after missing a penalty in the 2-2 draw against Wolfsburg - his fourth penalty miss in a row!

Pantelic wasn't scheduled to take the penalty, but he refuses to apologise, saying "we'll see who takes the next one".

"Play the frustration away"

Dieter Hoeneß insists that "the issue has been settled" and demands that "the team should use the match to play the frustration away".

"We want to reach the group phase and get a good going-in position for the second leg", the sporting director said and added "Marko will take no more penalties".

Rude surprise?

Lucien Favre warns against the Irish team. "They're hard-running and very combative. We will be in for a rude surprise if we only give 80%!"

The club from Dublin had eliminated Swedish top team Elfsborg in the previous round.

Raffael doubtful

Favre will have to make do without Patrick Ebert (groin), Lennart Hartmann (groin) and long-term absentees Lucio, Christian Fiedler and Amine Chermiti.

Striker Raffael is doubtful -- his wife is likely to give birth within the next days.

Line-ups as expected:

Hertha: Drobny - Friedrich, Simunic, Kaka, Stein - Kacar, Cicero - Piszczek, Raffael (Nicu) - Voronin, Pantelic

Bundesliga - Die offizielle Webseite