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Berlin (AP) - Pal Dardai knew exactly what is now required of him.

Hertha BSC threatens to lose the momentum they have just gained in the parforce ride through the relegation battle.

The tough zero number against Arminia Bielefeld felt like a step backwards.

Coach Dardai preferred to counter this right away and prescribed a positive mindset.

"I have never seen a team that shoots every cartridge in the right place," said the Hungarian after the Berlin team's 0-0 draw in the Bundesliga soccer duel.

The fact that in the third game in six days after the two-week corona quarantine, despite the large-scale rotation with eight supposedly rested starting eleven players, freshness and fitness in legs and heads was also missing from Dardai.

«We shouldn't be mentally overloaded.

That was more physical.

If you are not in good physical shape, you are not in the best mental condition, ”was the analysis of the 45-year-old.

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Dardai's conclusion: In the Berlin world of thought, the positive must prevail. Regardless of the new injury concerns, which after the failures of Mattéo Guendouzi (metatarsal fracture) and Sami Khedira (calf) make the further involvement of Maximilian Mittelstädt (suspected concussion) and Mathezs Cunha (ankle) questionable. Dodi Lukebakio, Marvin Plattenhardt and Rune Jarstein are still missing after their corona infections.

Dardai's arguments: Five points from three games despite the difficult isolation days are more than expected. Hertha has been unbeaten for six games. Twice there were no goals conceded. And rank 14 in the table would make everyone happy in the end. So why suddenly doubt? Sports director Arne Friedrich also classified the Hertha world between hope and fear: “It is important to keep calm, to stand together and to see the positive”.

And then there is now the “joker game” on Schalke.

With a win in the third and final game against the relegated team, the Berliners would go into the direct duel on matchday 33 with five points ahead of 1. FC Köln.

With another victory, the last trembling about staying in class would definitely be over on Saturday.

"We stay hard-working, honest, consistent and try to pull the joker," said Dardai.

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For Arminia, the 0-0 felt very different.

Body language, team spirit and commitment were all right after the 0-5 shock against Borussia Mönchengladbach two weeks ago.

And Hertha remained within striking distance as an opponent - despite 16th place. Taking a point in Berlin was "a partial success," said coach Frank Kramer, "that's why it is something for us that can and will help us."

Dardai could not have presented the situation more positively.

© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210510-99-534083 / 2