In the exuberance of happiness, Jordan Torunarigha slipped out a compliment that had to be considered a gross exaggeration that evening.

Anyone who does not mean well to the Hertha BSC defender could even assume that he has cynical intentions.

"Against such a world-class team," said Torunarigha after the 3-2 draw against Borussia Dortmund, "it is of course all the nicer to win".

Like a world-class team, BVB really did not perform on this cold, wet December evening in the Olympic Stadium, which was to a large extent also due to Hertha. In person, this was especially true for Torunarigha, who rarely offered the world-class striker Erling Haaland opportunities to prove his skills. The physical monster Haaland found a hardly less blessed counterpart in Torunarigha, the two fought several duels in which Haaland looked far less good than usual.

Torunarigha did not receive any special praise from his coach Tayfun Korkut, but Hertha's coach paid much more tribute to "the entire chain of four who bravely defended the front".

Korkut demonstrated psychological skill; it would have been inappropriate to single out an individual, despite all the merits that Torunarigha had earned in the contested 90 minutes.

Korkut's specifications are becoming more and more visible

“That was a well deserved victory. We were superior in many phases. The reaction to the Mainz game was important to me and that after the defeat we still believed in the idea that we had brought to the team from day one, ”said Korkut. His guidelines become more and more visible after four games. Even against a seemingly superior team like BVB. Hertha played courageously, with a lot of confidence in their own abilities. "Basically you saw how much joy there can be in the team," said Korkut.

Also noteworthy is the amazing new resilience to setbacks.

First, the video referee recognized the supposed leadership by Myziane Maolida, then Dortmund also took the lead thanks to Julian Brandt.

Nevertheless, it was already apparent in the first half that the Berliners are by no means willing to surrender to their fate.

Not so long ago that was different, Hertha reacted without ideas to backlogs.

Korkut, on the other hand, calls for creative play with the ball, and during the break he expressly encouraged his team to keep trying.

"We had good possession and always found solutions," said Hertha's trainer.

Hertha gains distance

One of Korkut's assets is that he trusts players who didn't get going under his predecessor Pal Dardai. For example Ishak Belfodil, who in the absence of the most reliable goal scorer Stevan Jovetic this time did not shine as a preparer but as a goal scorer. Marco Richter let the second and then the third Berlin goal follow his equalization. As a reward, the former Augsburg fan was celebrated by the Berlin fans when he was replaced. Richter is a summer addition that is becoming increasingly important. Manager Fredi Bobic had expressly hoped for that. Korkut should not only improve Hertha's points, but also Bobic's transfer record by using the newcomers more regularly than the less adventurous Dardai.

Due to the recent high with seven points from four games, Hertha can at least spend the turn of the year in eleventh place, with a slight distance to the dangerous zone. “You saw what is possible,” says Korkut. The team is on the right track. "We have already seen many approaches of where we want to take Hertha," said the coach. He is convinced of the potential of the players.

It is not clear with which staff he will continue to work from January.

Manager Bobic had announced further restructuring in advance.

“We'll take another look at our squad.

It will be an interesting window.

My cell phone is a mess, it jingles all the time.

There is a sales and Christmas presale right now, ”he said.

The Berliners supposedly want to part with expensive misunderstandings like Krzysztof Piatek or Lucas Tousart.

Both cost Hertha around 50 million euros.

Money that they now mourn at Hertha BSC.