- Toni Leistner remains captain of Hertha
Toni Leistner will remain the captain of Hertha BSC in the upcoming 2. Bundesliga season. "He's a role model," said coach Christian Fiel at the Berliners' press conference, referring to the 33-year-old defender. Leistner is also a "point of contact" for many young players, the new head coach noted. Leistner joined from Belgian club VV St. Truiden last year and immediately took over the captaincy.
However, it's unlikely that the defender will lead the team onto the pitch at the Olympiastadion this Saturday (13:00 CET, Sky) for the season opener against SC Paderborn. Fiel is expected to field Marc Oliver Kempf and Linus Gechter in central defense.
Demme for the armband?
Diego Demme is likely to wear the captain's armband. The new signing is a regular in defensive midfield and was elected to the team council. The council also includes injured Fabian Reese, Florian Niederlechner, and backup goalkeeper Marius Gersbeck, as well as young players Tjark Ernst and Gechter.
Demme previously played for SSC Napoli but struggled to make an impact. Hertha had tried to sign him last season. "It was important to bring in experience," said sporting director Benjamin Weber about the now-completed transfer of the 32-year-old.
Despite Toni Leistner's continued leadership role within the team, there's a possibility that Diego Demme will take the captain's armband during matches. Demme's appointment to the team council and his experience with SSC Napoli make him a strong contender for the responsibility.
