Latest news with #HerthaBerlin
Daily Record
2 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
We're as prepared for Rangers as we can be, says Motherwell boss
Jens Berthel Askou says his side are ready to face the Ibrox giants Jens Berthel Askou says his Motherwell side are as prepared as they can be for their Premiership opener at home to Rangers next Saturday. The Lanarkshire side drew 1-1 with German 2 Bundesliga side Hertha Berlin at Fir Park on Friday night in their final warm-up game before Russell Martin brings his Rangers side to town. Askou feels that the Premier Sports Cup group stage games and friendlies have allowed him to properly assess his squad, so that he knows who should play where, and which areas need to be strengthened. He said: 'I think we are as prepared as we can be. We would like to have had a few more weeks with just one game a week, because it would have given us some extra time to train and load them differently. 'We could have put more volume into the week, in terms of running and specific phases in training, but that's how it is. 'I think we've got the most out of it, we've had the results we wanted and needed, and progress in many phases of the game, and then we know we have to keep building over the summer. 'We still have to add players to the squad, and we also know that our goal is not to be the best we can be in July or August, but to be the best team we can be this season, and from next season, see if we can become even better. 'I think the games have been very competitive, so it's not like we've missed competition. There have been some really tough cup games for us as well. 'We had a good intense game against Carlisle United, Twente, and [Hertha Berlin] was surely very competitive as well. 'We're getting answers every week of what do we think of the players in the squad, who will play that role the most. 'We've swapped a little bit in different positions, because the system we play is a little bit different from what they've been used to. 'That means some of the answers we had a couple of weeks ago are maybe different to what we're getting now, so it's a bigger puzzle, and we're working with it every day, but I think we're getting more and more valuable information. 'That lets us figure what position we need to target.' On Hertha, Askou said: 'It's the closest we'd get to the standard of Rangers. 'The team we played is pushing to get back to the Bundesliga, and have a good possibility of getting there, with some really good players who have a lot of experience at a very high level. 'I expected this to be a very hard test, it was for sure, but I think we managed it very well. 'We looked the fitter team in the end and I was impressed with that and I was happy with many things. 'In the first 10 or 15 minutes during the middle of the second half we started to look really tired, and were able to pull ourselves up, without the possibility to swap five players. 'I was also happy with the intensity that we started the game with, and some of the spells we had throughout the game, and the courage to press them high on many occasions. 'In the moments when we struggled a little bit, we didn't lose the bravery and didn't drop back more than necessary.'
Daily Record
6 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
Lennon Miller 'could play against Rangers' but I expect answers, says Motherwell boss
Jens Berthel Askou doesn't expect a resolution in the next few days Motherwell boss Jens Berthel Askou won't rule Lennon Miller out of playing against Rangers in their Premiership opener, but says he expects answers next week. Miller has been absent for the Premier Sports Cup games and was missing again tonight as Motherwell drew 1-1 with Hertha Berlin in their final pre-season warm-up. The youngster has been linked with a big money move elsewhere, but Askou said: 'I don't expect his situation to be resolved in the next few days. There's nothing new on Lennon Miller so right now he's still our player and he's back in little bit of training and I look forward to seeing him on Monday. 'There is a possibility of him playing against Rangers but again we will have to get some answers next week. 'It's not ruled out.' Askou was pleased with the game against Hertha Berlin, but says the calibre of the opposition means it wasn't just a 'friendly'. He said: 'I'm absolutely pleased with the performance. I think it's maybe a little bit of an understatement to call it an exercise, because I think it was a very competitive match, with two teams who really tried to play the game on their terms. 'There was momentum for us, for them, and a little bit from us at the end. 'It ended with a draw, I think that felt really good for us, because we earned that, the possibility to get a draw, and it's about quality and effectiveness at the end. 'We wanted to see how far we are, in terms of trying to play our style of play against a team of very high quality, and I think that gave us some answers. 'We still have a job to do, but we're also very happy with the level we displayed at times, not just in moments but in several phases, and I'm really impressed with the boys and how they were able to find some extra in the reserve tank, when the normal tank was completely empty, after a tough couple of weeks, and actually go for it in the end.' Askou says the game was good preparation for Rangers next week and said: 'That's the closest we get to the standard of Rangers. I know they had a fantastic result the other night and a fantastic team riding on new energy with a manager who has new ideas,'
BBC News
6 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Stamatelopoulos earns Motherwell draw against Hertha Berlin
Motherwell brought their league preparations to a close with a 1-1 friendly draw against Hertha Fir Park hosts fell a goal behind after a short Liam Gordon back pass led to keeper Calum Ward wiping out Jon Thorsteinsson. Fabian Reese converted wasn't much to shout about for the majority of the 3,931 inside Fir Park in the first half before the Steelmen stepped up the pressure late with the clock ticking down they got their reward with Apostolos Stamatelopoulos turning in a Callum Slattery cross at the front Steelmen finished the stronger of the two, but Hertha, who finished last season 11th in Bundesliga 2, held Berthel Askou, who fielded the same XI to the side which defeated Morton to secure top spot in their Premier Sports Cup group, will see his side kick off their Premiership campaign at home to Rangers on 2 August.
Daily Record
6 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
Motherwell 1, Hertha Berlin 1: Stamatelopoulos strike forces draw
Jens Berthel Askou's side were given a tough challenge in their last pre-season game Apostolos Stamatelopoulos was the hero as Motherwell forced a draw against 2 Bundesliga giants Hertha Berlin at Fir Park in their final warm-up match of the summer before hosting Rangers here next Saturday. A Fabian Reese penalty looked like being enough to separate the sides, before Stamatelopoulos struck late on for the Steelmen. Motherwell had a few forays forward early in the first half, but Hertha took the lead from the spot in nine minutes and dominated the rest of the 45, but without overly testing keeper Callum Ward. Ward's foul on Jon Thorsteinsson as he darted onto a clumsy pass-back was what led to Reese opening the scoring, and the Germans never really looked back. Motherwell boss Jens Berthel Askou said this game would give Motherwell a test similar to that which they'll face against the Ibrox side in eight days' time, so it will have been job done. But Motherwell didn't really pose a threat in the first half, which will have concerned the Dane. The second half was much the same, though Motherwell grew into the game more, as Apostolos Stamatelopoulos had a couple of flurries up front, and Lukas Fadinger had their first serious shot on target in 75 minutes. And it was left to Stamatelopoulos to squeeze a shot in at the right post corner with seven minutes left. Motherwell boss Jens Berthel Askou kept with the same line-up as their 3-0 win over Morton on Tuesday, and again there was no place in the squad for Lennon Miller, amid mounting speculation. Good news for Well fans was the emergence of goalkeeper Aston Oxborough to the bench, following his pre-season injury. Motherwell carved the first opening in six minutes, but Elliot Watt saw his shot deflected over. But Hertha were awarded a penalty when a clumsy pass-back left goalkeeper Callum Ward with a decision to make, and he upended Jon Thorsteinsson, with referee Nick Walsh immediately pointing to the spot. Reese stepped up and confidently dispatched the spot-kick into the bottom right corner. That sent the German side flying and Reese was only denied his second of the game moments later by a brilliant defensive block. Maurice Krattenmacher was sent through on goal by Tjark Ernst's kick-out in 25 minutes, but a well-timed challenge by Paul McGinn shepherded the ball safely back to Watt. Marton Dardai nearly scored direct from a corner on the right in 34 minutes, with Ward forced to claw it out from under his bar. A neat passing move in 41 minutes ended with Reese's rising shot being well saved by Ward. Deyo Zeefuik's header was well saved from a Diego Demme free kick inside first-half stoppage time. Thorsteinsson should have doubled Hertha's lead in 54 minutes when he was sent through on the left, but fired a low shot inches past the near post. Oxborough replaced Ward on the hour, but didn't have an awful lot to do. Fadinger had a low shot well saved by Ernst in 75 minutes as Motherwell tried to get back into the game. But Motherwell levelled in 83 minutes when Slattery's cross from the right was squeezed in at the near post by Stamtelopoulos. MOTHERWELL: Ward (Oxborough, 60), Koutroumbis (O'Donnell, 78), McGinn, Gordon, Longelo, Watt (Halliday, 71), Slattery, Fadinger, Maswanhise, Just (Said, 71), Stamatelopoulos Subs (not used): O'Donnell Booked: Watt (23) HERTHA BERLIN: Ernst, Zeefuik, Leistner, Dardai, Cuisance, Demme, Eitschberger, Krattenmacher (Hildebrandt, 81), Karbownik (Berner, 71), Thorsteinsson, Reese Subs (not used): Smarsch (GK), Ozkanli
Daily Record
7 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
Hertha Berlin clash will get Motherwell ready for Rangers, says boss
Jens Berthel Askou says Friday's friendly clash is good preparation Motherwell boss Jens Berthel Askou reckons Friday's friendly against German giants Hertha Berlin will set his side up for their Premiership opener against Rangers – because they're a similar standard. The 2 Bundesliga side arrive at Fir Park in the final warm-up match before Russell Martin brings his new-look Rangers side to ML1 on August 2. Having qualified for the Premier Sports Cup last 16 with a 3-0 win over Morton on Tuesday, Askou says he has been using the competition's group stages as preparation, getting as many players as possible used to playing 90 minutes, and giving his squad a chance to impress him. Askou has made several changes from game to game in the League Cup, and said: 'We are rotating and mixing up as we need to, right now, while we're playing twice a week in pre-season. We're trying to get people ready to play 90 minutes. 'We have a big game for us against a very good opponent, that will match us like some of the level that we're going to face against Rangers in the first league game, so we need to get people through that in a good way, both physically and finding a high level of performance. 'I want to see everyone and give them an opportunity to show themselves.' Askou is pleased to have progressed to the next stage of the competition. Apostolos Stamatelopoulos opened the scoring in 52 minutes, bundling home the rebound after James Storer had parried Johnny Koutroumbis' volley, before Tawanda Maswanhise netted a double, the second a tup-corner curler from 25 yards out. Askou said: 'I'm pleased. Result-wise that was the goal. There will be more important goals for us this pre-season. 'Getting as far as possible in the League Cup is important, but we want to see if we can balance that out with progressing, improving and building the squad, and getting through the pre-season without big injuries. I think we've done that. 'We're pleased to finish it off strong, with the strongest performance in the group stage. 'I think Tawanda has the potential to be a very important player for us and we try to create an environment where everyone can express themselves. 'He has looked better and better, there was room for him to exploit, it suits him very well. He took advantage of that today and I expect him to do that, going forward. 'Apostolos's first goal in seven months, and I don't care and I don't think he cares how it came. 'I've told him, and he had several situations in the first games here, it started against Twente when he was a foot off scoring, but he was there today and put it the last few inches over the line, which is what we need.'
