Reese: "It makes me proud to see the team like this"

Trio with three points: Marten Winkler, Fabian Reese, and Kennet Eichhorn (from left) celebrated Winkler's goal and Hertha's 3-0 victory. IMAGO/Noah Wedel

When Luca Schuler's 3-0 goal in stoppage time dispelled any remaining doubts about the team's first league win of the season, Stefan Leitl showed a hint of a smile on his face on the sidelines. It was relief at the certainty that his team, which had been notoriously underachieving recently, still possessed those elements of second-division football that are essential for success.

Hertha demonstrated a near-perfect symbiosis of energy and efficiency in their 3-0 victory in Hanover – and, despite a 9:21 shot count and 0:15 corners, ultimately tamed the hosts with maximum tenacity and passion. "I'm incredibly proud of the boys," the Hertha coach told Sky after the triumph at his old stomping ground. "We threw ourselves into everything, defended everything, and scored at the right moments."

Against an opponent with a lot of structure and power, Hertha showed the intensity that had been almost entirely lacking in the first few weeks of the season – and, after previously scoring just one goal in four league matches, this time scored a hat trick through Marten Winkler (51'), Dawid Kownacki's first goal for his new club (68'), and substitute Schuler (90+2). "Nothing replaces victories. Above all, the way we approached the game, the way we scored the goals, and the passion with which we played against the ball is very important for us as a team and for the fans in the city," explained captain Fabian Reese . "It makes me very proud to see the team on the pitch like that."

Leitl, who was missing four central defenders (Gechter, Kolbe, Brooks, Klemens), moved away from the three-man defense and played a 4-2-3-1 against his former club - with Reese in his former position on the left wing and 16-year-old Kennet Eichhorn , who made his starting debut, as part of the double six alongside Leon Jensen .

The system change brought more control and security – and yet the Berliners, who recorded their first second-division victory since May 4th ( 1-0 against Fürth ), were fortunate on several occasions with defensive moves on or just in front of their own goal line. "But you have to earn your luck," Leitl rightly stated. "It's also attitude, willpower, emotion, teamwork." All of that was there this time. And so, on an evening overshadowed by a medical emergency in the away section, the quintessential sporting insight from Berlin's perspective remained the quintessential statement of defensive leader Toni Leistner : "We stood as a unit on the pitch." That was the key. And it will be the benchmark for the coming weeks.