Hertha coach Favre get’s club backing

Hertha Berlin coach Lucien Favre has received the club’s backing, following a dismal start to the Berlin-based club.

Hertha has plunged to last place in the Bundesliga after five straight defeats, and lost again late Wednesday in the second round of the German Cup to second-division team 1860 Munich, which won on penalties after a 2-2 draw.

“He is not only the right man at the right time, he will lead us out of the crisis,” Hertha sporting director Michael Preetz said Thursday.

Hertha came back from two goals down to level at 2-2 and earn extra time but was knocked out when Gojko Kacar and Christoph Janker failed to convert their penalty shots.

“The second half makes me optimistic for the next games,” Favre said.

“I can’t criticize my team.”

And Hertha’s next game is on Sunday at Hoffenheim.

Last term around, Favre’s team topped the Bundesliga for several weeks last season and nearly qualified for the Champions League.

But the club did not renew the contract of leading scorer Marko Pantelic because of Favre’s opposition, and could not afford to buy out the contract of striker Andriy Voronin from Liverpool. Central defender Josip Simunic left on a free transfer to join Hoffenheim.

Hertha has been unable to compensate for the departure of the three players and has been further hurt by injuries.