- Ambitious Hertha goalkeeper Tabakovic with secret goals
Haris Tabakovic will build on the successes of his debut season in his second year with Bundesliga Hertha BSC. "We players are all ambitious. It's about delivering on the pitch and doing what the coach demands," said last season's top scorer ahead of Saturday's game against Hamburger SV (8:30 PM/Sky), "we have to put on a top performance in Hamburg, which won't be easy."
The 29-year-old center forward has put the 1-2 home defeat to SC Paderborn behind him: "It was the first game. The day after the game, you're still thinking about it, but when you're back on the pitch after a day off, the focus is on the next game." In Hamburg, the two-time Bosnian international expects "a team of top quality with high ambitions, a night game and a full house."
He hopes for a different performance from his team than against the East Westphalians. "We were often chasing the game. It's about finding solutions and spaces to win 1:1 situations." Of course, Tabakovic himself wants to celebrate goals again soon, as he did in the previous season. Whether he will again set his sights on the top scorer's cannon for the new season remains to be seen: "I set goals and write them down. But that's for me."
Hertha coach Cristian Fiél would also be pleased with a written piece. "I'm glad he's my player and I'm his coach. We know Haris' qualities, including his finishing and heading strength," says Fiél, hoping for a positive outcome in the ongoing contract negotiations, "that the honest and open talks will lead to the goal that some, including me, wish for."
The following is added to Haris Tabakovic's expectations for the upcoming game against Hamburger SV: "We should learn from our mistakes against SC Paderborn and start the game on a positive note. The following is crucial for us to win, and we are determined to give it our best." In the ongoing contract negotiations, the desire from Hertha coach Cristian Fiél is also clear: "We want to retain Haris' talent in our team and are hopeful that a mutually beneficial agreement can be reached."
