For much of the season Hertha looked set to finish in the top four and complete an amazing turn around from their relegation threatened 2014/15 season. Their eventual seventh place finish was the result of a late season dip in form that almost undid all of their hard work. Pal Dardai was under fire at the end of last season and just about kept his team in the league while also juggling his responsibilities as Hungary’s U21 coach. However with his focus entirely on Hertha the club have progressed well this term. The coach resisted the temptation to have a complete overhaul of the squad in the summer preferring to cherry pick a few players from relegated sides and adding want away striker Vedad Ibisevic from Stuttgart. After an unconvincing start, Hertha really accelerated from round six onwards as they took 8 wins from 12 games to move ahead of a tight pack into fourth spot at Christmas. Their form continued on a fairly constant path until a heavy defeat away to Borussia Mönchengladbach started a slide which saw them lost five of their last seven matches and drop out of the DFB Cup at the semi final stage. Their seventh place finish and a place in the Europa League qualifying stages for next season still represents an excellent finish for a side who relied heavily on having a very solid but small squad of regular players. Dardai will have to add to his squad for next season if they make it into the group stage of the Europa League as that will add extra pressure on his playing staff. However they can build from a group of players which work well together and have a flexible style of play. This season has certainly seen the emergence of some players on the Bundesliga stage. An injury to Thomas Kraft meant he lost his place to Rune Jarstein and, though the Norwegian started as a mere back-up choice, he could well go into next season as the club number one. Left back Marvin Plattenhardt also had a fine season having become the starting left back with his free kicks a constant source of goals throughout the campaign. Salomon Kalou and Vedad Ibisevic also resurrected their careers this year with some fine performances next to each in attack and that partnership will surely continue to bear goals next season. In a squad of very fine performances from much of the squad their player of the season was Vladimir Darida who settled into a vital role behind the strikers quickly having arrived from Freiburg. He will be an important player for the team as they move forward to face new challenges next year.
