1. FC Kaiserslautern knocked out Hertha BSC 3-1 in the cup quarter-finals and will play for the pot against champions Leverkusen in the Olympic Stadium in 13 days. For Pal Dardai (48) that is no reason not to wish the Palatinate team good luck as outsiders. Quite the opposite: He keeps his fingers crossed for FCK because his trainer friend Friedhelm Funkel (70) is sitting on the bench.
There were warm scenes after the press conference following Hertha’s 3-1 win in the final home game of the season. After everything was said about the game, they both hugged each other tightly. Dardai had previously said: “I have great respect for Funkel. I’m keeping my fingers crossed for him for the cup final. He is a person you can touch. I hope he wins this game. That would be a great story!”
At the age of 70, another unexpected title for a man who does not represent glamor but rather hard work. Who has experienced ups and downs as a coach. At Hertha BSC there were only lows. He was relegated with the Blue and Whites in 2010. And Pal Dardai was his player. This season was a double misfortune for the Hungarian: relegation and a serious ankle injury.
Dardai: “Cup victory for Funkel, that would be a great story”
In Hertha’s relegation season 2009/2010, Funkel trained the club icon Pal Dardai.König/Imago
When Funkel took over after ex-coach Lucien Favre was fired in October 2009, Dardai was initially only able to play three games – his ankle hurt too much. Funkel stuck by him anyway. And Dardai was used again in the second half of the season. Common suffering unites us. Dardai never forgot that. That’s why the Hungarian begrudges his ex-coach his triumph.
Funkel praises Dardai for his Hertha job
Dardai: “It will be a difficult game for Lautern against Leverkusen, but anything can happen in a game. That’s fifty-fifty in the final. Lautern wouldn’t have a chance in two games.”
And what does Funkel say to Dardai? “Congratulations to Pal for the deserved win against us. The young players that Pal has incorporated into the team this season give us a lot of hope for Hertha’s future. Adding so many young players is not easy. A compliment goes to Pal for that,” said the FCK coach.■