Kevin Sessa stands by Hertha Berlin despite promotion struggles
Berlin (dpa) – Midfielder Kevin Sessa has cited persistent injuries and a lack of consistency as the key reasons behind his team's squandered promotion push. "We have a very strong squad. But at least one piece of the puzzle has almost always been missing due to injuries. Our puzzle was never complete," the 25-year-old told Kicker. "We have the quality and the strength to compete at the top, but we also lacked consistency over a longer period. We dropped too many points along the way."
Ahead of matchday 28 in Germany's 2. Bundesliga, the Berlin side sits seven points adrift of the promotion playoff spot. Since manager Stefan Leitl effectively ruled out automatic promotion, the team's performances have improved, winning three of their last four matches. "Maybe some players were overthinking things before. Maybe that got into their heads a bit," Sessa speculated. "When the pressure is off, you play with more freedom and calm. But I'm not making excuses."
Sessa himself has recently found form, starting in four consecutive matches—partly due to rising star Kennet Eichhorn's injury absence. His contract runs until summer 2027, and the Hertha Berlin player appears to have no intention of leaving early. "I'm not thinking about anything else," he stated. "I'm not done here yet."
