Funkel: It`s not over yet - 7M sport

Funkel: It`s not over yet

Posted Thursday, November 05, 2009 by PA

Hertha Berlin boss Friedhelm Funkel has still not given up hope of progressing from the Europa League group stage even though his side have only one point to their name.

The capital club head to Holland for their clash with Heerenveen on the back of consecutive 1-0 defeats in the competition that have left them bottom of Group D.

Indeed, this is fast turning into a nightmare season for Hertha. Their 2-0 defeat by Borussia Dortmund on Friday, their ninth in 10 league games, left them four points adrift at the foot of the Bundesliga table.

They are without a win in any competition since August but victory would at least help get their European campaign back on track.

The Germans are only three points behind Heerenveen, who lie second in the group, and will be looking to turn the tables on the Dutch outfit to whom they lost in the Olympiastadion two weeks ago.

And Funkel for one is relishing the prospect of a fiery atmosphere in the Abe Lenstra Stadion.

"That does not bother me," he said on Hertha's official website. "I love such games.

"We are going there in search of the three points. We still have the chance to make it through the group stage."

Funkel could be forgiven for writing off Hertha's Europa League campaign and concentrating instead on avoiding relegation from the Bundesliga, but his current focus is firmly on Heerenveen rather than the weekend clash with Cologne.

"We have watched our opponents (Heerenveen) again and go into the match well prepared," said Funkel.

Heerenveen's own campaign has been anything but plain sailing and their win over Hertha last time out was their first of the competition.

Saturday's 3-0 success over ADO Den Haag was only their third in the Eredivisie this term.

And coach Jan de Jonge believes the game will be tougher to win than the game in Berlin.

"Hertha have been warned and are fighting for their last chance," he said.

Hertha will be without Pal Dardai, Gojko Kacar, Florian Kringe, Timo Ochs, Rasmus Bentsson and Patrick Ebert, who is suspended following his sending-off in the first game between the sides.

Gerry Koning will come in for the banned Daryl Janmaat for the hosts.

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