Bayern Munich vs Hertha Berlin - Hertha Berlin call on bus driver to help protect top spot
Posted Tuesday, September 20, 2016 by PA
Hertha Berlin coach Pal Dardai has joked that he will need the help of the club's bus driver as he plots a plan to keep a hold of top spot ahead of the trip to Bayern Munich on Wednesday.
Hertha travel to Munich as the only side, together with the Bavarians, still to have a 100% record from their opening three Bundesliga games of the season.
To keep that intact, they need to do what only 10 teams before them have achieved in the Bundesliga, and win at the Allianz Arena.
"I've already discussed the tactics with our bus drive," Dardai told the Berliner Zeitung newspaper.
"He's going to drive the bus in front of the wall and park it there - almost like the Berlin Wall.
"Seriously, though, we want to remain unbeaten in Munich. We've got excellent team spirit and are a real unit.
"The atmosphere in the dressing room is very good, we've matured and now have a different body language and a determination to win, but everything must come together against Bayern.
"They need to have a bad day and we need a good one, and then we can get something. Other teams have succeeded there, even Mainz last season."
Ingolstadt gave Bayern a fright at the weekend, almost coming away with a point, and their performance will have encouraged the Old Lady, who have won all the games they have played so far this season.
"They played really well, yet it still wasn't enough in the end," Dardai said.
"That's the way it is against Bayern - if lady luck is on your side, then it is possible."
Arjen Robben could make a return for Bayern, with coach Carlo Ancelotti saying he is "ready for 30-45 minutes" while Jerome Boateng will start at the heart of the Bavarians' defence with Mats Hummels given a breather.
The main change Ancelotti wants to see compared to Saturday, however, is the attitude of his team.
"We need to improve because we didn't play well," admitted the Italian, who has won six games out of six since taking charge in the summer.
"Berlin have played really well up to now and they are a compact team with a very good team spirit, so it's going to be very hard for us and we need to be at 100%."
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