SC Freiburg vs Hertha BSC Berlin preview - Luhukay: Give Kalou time

Posted Thursday, September 18, 2014 by PA

Hertha Berlin coach Jos Luhukay has stressed Salomon Kalou needs to be given time to settle in to his new surroundings, although he is still an option for Friday night's trip to Freiburg.

The former Chelsea midfielder joined the club in one of the most high-profile deals at the end of the transfer deadline, but his debut was only nine seconds old when Hertha conceded in a 3-1 defeat to Mainz last weekend.

The expectation levels are nevertheless high in the 29-year-old, who could make his first start for the Old Lady on Friday.

However, Luhukay has warned not to expect immediate miracles from his club's prominent newcomer.

"He is not yet at one with his team-mates," he said at the pre-match press conference. "He's still finding it tough to forge an understanding.

"It's not something which can happen overnight."

Not only is Kalou struggling to find his way into a team who are now into their second season in the top flight since promotion, he was not entirely sure either where exactly he will be heading on Friday night.

"I do know Freiburg; it does say something because my pal Papiss Demba Cisse played there, but I don't really know where it is," he told the Berliner Kurier.

As long as he knows the way to goal, that will be more than enough for the Hertha fans.

"I can't promise that I'll score, but I do desperately want to open my account for Hertha," Kalou added.

"That is what I am here for."

Looking to stop Kalou and Hertha is Pavel Krmas, who is desperate to bounce back from a 3-1 defeat to Borussia Dortmund last weekend, a result which left his side level with their opponents on just one point from the first three games of the season.

"They only have a point also and that is why we definitely want to try to win this game," the 34-year-old said on his club's website.

"Berlin have signed some prominent players in Kalou, Julian Schieber, Valentin Stocker and John Heitinga and they have quality, and will be a tough nut to crack.

"But we're the home team and if we want to carry on being successful, then it's very important that we pick up points at home."

They picked up one of those in their last fixture at the Dreisamstadion in a 0-0 draw with Borussia Monchengladbach.

"We can certainly build on that," Krmas said "Our coach is going to prepare us well, but Hertha are going to be well prepared for us too, so I expect it to be an even game which may be decided by a triviality.

"I hope we get it all right this time."