Hertha BSC ahead of the season opener: Kolbe and Dardai in a duel for the center-back spot

Marton Dardai missed parts of pre-season but impressed at the training camp. His positioning and tackling strength gave him the edge in the intensive sessions. Kolbe, by contrast, produced a few slip-ups in the friendlies that once again call his chances of a starting spot into question.

Head coach Stefan Leitl is therefore facing a fundamental decision: does he go with Dardai's form and ball-playing security, or with Kolbe's longer-standing familiarity with the side? The competitive fixtures will show which of the two earns that trust.

Open issue on the left side of defense

Another problem presents itself on the left side of defense. Hertha do not have an established left-back in their squad. The Berlin side will therefore have to fill that position with a converted player or a youngster from their own youth setup.

Alongside the two center-backs, other young players are moving into focus. Oluwaseun Adewumi is part of the extended circle of candidates for the starting eleven, as is goalkeeper Tjark Ernst. Both are considered options for the upcoming challenges.

In the friendlies against sides from the upper end of the table – including matches where Wolfsburg and Werder Bremen served as benchmarks – Leitl's team also showed phases of solid defending, but also lapses when tracking back.

Young personnel in focus

The season opener will show how well Hertha BSC have closed these personnel gaps. With an eye on the upcoming fixture list and comparisons with direct rivals such as VfL Bochum, what matters most for the Berlin side is the points haul.

Peter Görlich, who is regarded as the person responsible for sporting development, recently emphasized that – despite the absence of a left-back – squad planning had deliberately been built around flexibility. The club is banking on versatile wide players.

For the fans, for now, all that remains is the anticipation ahead of the first competitive fixture: who will come out on top in central defense, who will fill the gap on the left – and can Hertha BSC kick off a stable season?