Hertha dressing room is simmering: Leitl announces storm after Reese controversy

Tensions are rising at Hertha BSC ahead of the last home game of the season. After four matches without a win, coach Stefan Leitl is toughening his tone – and a personnel decision involving captain Fabian Reese is becoming a litmus test for how well the principles of performance, discipline, and match plan still fit together in the current crisis.

The 0:1 defeat in Magdeburg is still having an effect. After the next loss, Leitl announced a storm, after Hertha had already failed to win against Kiel, Braunschweig, and Kaiserslautern. At the center of the unrest, besides the results crisis, are the handling of Reese and several squad decisions that are causing discussion within the team.

Leitl increases the pressure after the winless streak

The tense situation has been building up for weeks. In Braunschweig on April 19, Hertha squandered a 1:0 lead that lasted until the 78th minute and only managed a 1:1 draw. Afterwards, Leitl held captains Fabian Reese, Toni Leistner, and Deyovaisio Zeefuik accountable and demanded more leadership from them. At the same time, he called on the team to strive for the maximum points haul in the season finale despite sporting disappointment.

Sportingly, there was no stabilization. Against Kiel, Hertha had a clear advantage in chances (23:6 shots on goal), but lost 0:1. In Magdeburg, the team again failed to score. After the final whistle, Leitl made it clear how angry he was: “It was already loud at halftime. I am really pissed off.” And: “That will definitely happen. My team will not present itself like this again.”

The message is clear: Leitl is relying on confrontation during this period without results – as an attempt to create commitment. This can wake up a team, but carries the risk that individual decisions are no longer judged solely on sporting grounds, but are seen as signaling politics.

The Reese substitution becomes a symbolic case

The substitution of Fabian Reese in Magdeburg is causing particular discussion. Leitl took his captain off the field in the 68th minute with the score at 0:1 – a decision that, according to reports, some professionals did not understand.

The sporting reason is tricky but understandable: Before the goal conceded in the 61st minute, Reese allowed opponent Bockhorn too much space when tracking back. Leitl interpreted the scene as a lack of intensity against the ball. Especially in such moments, defensive tracking determines order and stability: Those who do not work back cleanly during transitions open up spaces – and often force the team into hectic shifting movements that create further gaps.

But the measure affects precisely the key attacking player. Reese has 10 goals and 12 assists. In Magdeburg, despite the least playing time, he had the most shots (2), crosses (6), and dribbles (6) for Hertha, as well as the second most sprints (16). After his substitution, Hertha did not have another shot on the opponent's goal.

This is exactly where the substitution becomes symbolic: Leitl sanctions a deficit in defensive work – and accepts that the team is missing its most dangerous weapon up front. In a match where Hertha did not score anyway, this trade-off intensifies the debate: Is it primarily about setting standards and punishing carelessness at this stage – or about keeping every remaining chance on the pitch to turn the game around? The answer to this question often decides whether a coach provides impetus or deepens divisions.

Personnel issues also intensify the situation

The tensions are not limited to Reese. Other professionals also received criticism in Magdeburg. In addition, there is dissatisfaction among substitutes who had hoped for more playing time in the season finale.

The case of Pascal Klemens is striking. He has extended his contract until 2028, but was again left on the bench in Magdeburg – even though Hertha had to make changes in central midfield because Eichhorn and Seguin were suspended. Especially in the center, where two defensive midfielders usually balance security and build-up play, personnel decisions are particularly visible: Who plays there not only determines the toughness in duels, but also whether the team remains calm under pressure or gets stuck. If a homegrown player with a new contract still plays no role in this situation, it is a decision that can raise questions about plan, hierarchy, and trust within the squad.

Leon Jensen also did not make the squad. Thus, ahead of the home game against Fürth, an overall picture emerges in which the results crisis, leadership claims, and squad management intertwine.

Before the last home appearance, Hertha is therefore under pressure not only in sporting terms. Leitl is demanding a reaction – but must also prevent his announced storm from becoming a permanent state that further divides the team. In games where it is less about league standings and more about attitude, roles, and signals for the future, a single personnel decision can become a proxy debate for the entire internal structure.