Boateng thanks hometown fans one final time, Dardai leaves future open
After their relegation was confirmed, Hertha trainer Pal Dardai and its "native son" Kevin-Prince Boateng commented on one of the worst days of their respective careers.
Boateng, retiring after the season, credited the Hertha supporters for filling the stadium and backing their club through thick and thin. Dardai left his future open, but did hint that he was eager to get back to the youth academy.
Boateng, retiring after the season, credited the Hertha supporters for filling the stadium and backing their club through thick and thin. Dardai left his future open, but did hint that he was eager to get back to the youth academy.
| Kevin-Prince Boateng. |
Hertha trainer Pal Dardai inserted 36-year-old former Hertha academy product Kevin-Prince Boateng into his starting XI against Bochum in a crucial relegation match on Saturday afternoon. One way or another, it would be the famous middle Boateng brother's final match in front of his hometown fans.
Boateng actually exited the match shortly after Lucas Tousart had given the team a 1-0 lead in the 64th. The gleeful Boateng took a bow in front of the Hertha FanKurve. Unfortunately, one half hour later, the "Prince" found himself heading back over to the fan section with tears in his eyes. His farewell would be a sad one after all.
"We actually played a good game today," Boateng told the Sky mics after he had paid his visit to the ultras, "We had a chance to close the game out. We had a five or six good chances. No need for us to be ashamed of the way we played today. The fans noticed that too.
"It's just sad," the German footballing legend continued, "I love this club. I came here knowing that not everything would be rosy. The fans have been unbelievable this year despite all our bad performances. I understand that they're sad. I'm a Hertha fan myself and I'm broken."
Dardai - who had already hinted that he would be heading back to his preferred job at the academy once his third stint as head-coach concluded along with the season - left it open what might happen with him. The Hungarian merely noted that there would be "analytical discussions".
"All I can say is that I will be working at Hertha next year and well beyond," Dardai said, "But in which position I can't say yet. Football remains a beautiful business. You have to put what happened behind you and look ahead. We have many young players from the academy, and some other players would also like to stay."
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