Felix Magath has been in Berlin for less than two months.

Not long, but apparently enough to succumb to the city's hallmark defeatism.

His team screwed up their own party on Saturday evening and lost 2-1 to Mainz in front of over 70,000 fans in the Olympic Stadium, meaning they missed out on staying in the league for the time being, when Magath surprised them with a gloomy prognosis.

"As of today, it's about preparing for relegation for us," said the Hertha BSC coach and provided the explanation: "As a professional, which I consider myself to be, I'm preparing for the worst possible case." And Magath could actually be right.

VfB Stuttgart snagged a point at Bayern on Sunday night and go into the final matchday three points behind Hertha but with a much better goal difference.

There, the Swabians meet 1. FC Köln in their own stadium, while the Berliners have to play at Borussia Dortmund.

If VfB wins and Hertha loses, what Magath said last week could happen.

When he started the job, he was sure that he would have to play with Hertha in the relegation and then play against Hamburger SV.

So the club where everything started for him.

The Berliners could have spared themselves the thrill long ago.

Last week, Bielefeld's late equalizer ruined all plans to make the home game against Mainz a happy end to the season.

The hosts felt the pressure of having to win more and more over the course of the game against FSV, after a good start they fell even further.

Everything was prepared for an exuberant celebration.

An almost sold out Olympic Stadium and then the reconciliation with the fans.

Before the game, Hertha's players went into the curve together and were loudly applauded for it.

"It's like a family.

Sometimes you fight, but then you make up.

After all, you love each other," said Kevin-Prince Boateng.

The love between the team and the crowd has been such a thing this season, the relationship reaching toxic status all too often.

Once a group of angry fans visited the players at training and threatened to "ignite the next stage" if they lost again, later the pros were forced to put down their jerseys before the turn.

As a symbol of not being worthy of it.

Both happened after defeats against city rivals Union Berlin, who defeated Hertha in all three comparisons.

The lost supremacy in the city was one, internal quarrels the other big topic of this season.

Investor Lars Windhorst openly called for President Werner Gegenbauer to be voted out of office, and new manager Fredi Bobic also failed to ensure continuity in the coaching position.

Disharmonies quickly arose with Pal Dardai, but things didn't work out at all with Tayfun Korkut and so Bobic surprised by signing Magath in dire need.

Under his leadership, Hertha scored important points in duels with competitors such as Augsburg, Stuttgart and Bielefeld.

Whether it is enough for direct rescue will not be decided until next Saturday.