Leitl relies on veterans instead of special address

Ahead of the heated clash with Dynamo Dresden, Hertha coach Stefan Leitl has not given his young players around 16-year-old Kennet Eichhorn any special preparation. "I think that will be regulated in the team," said Leitl ahead of the game on Saturday (13:00/Sky) in response to a corresponding question. "Especially now, when you take a young player like Kenny, that a Toni Leistner, Paul Seguin or Fabi Reese will take him aside and talk to him. And Kenny is also so cool that he plays it down easily."

70,000 fans are expected at the Olympiastadion, up to 25,000 of them from Dresden. "It's always about our attitude in the games and the energy we bring to the pitch," said the 48-year-old. "For us now, at the end of this week, it's about finishing the whole thing well to very well."

Leitl is pleased about flexibility

The Berliners have won the first two games of their home game week and are on the upswing. Leitl left open whether he would rely more on experienced players against Dresden. "We currently have a situation where we have a lot of players at our disposal," he said. "We have the situation that we can also react very flexibly to the opponent."

Leitl also warned against Dresden, however: "Basically, I see the team as being much better than their position in the table." Hertha expect "a team that is always really well prepared for the opponent, that has processes that are really good." Saxony are 16th in the relegation places ahead of the matchday, while Hertha are eighth in the table.