Reese and Leitl: "A special relationship"

Close connection: Stefan Leitl (left) and Fabian Reese have known and appreciated each other since the second half of the 2018/19 season in Fürth. IMAGO/Jan Huebner

It was February, it was a home game, the score was 0-0 for a long time, and Stefan Leitl chose Fabian Reese as left winger for his debut. Late, very late, Leitl's new team finally managed to land the lucky punch against MSV Duisburg on February 9, 2019. Daniel Keita-Ruel converted a penalty after 86 minutes to secure a 1-0 win and missed another penalty a little later.

Reese, who was on loan from Schalke at the time and was playing for SpVgg Greuther Fürth, had already been substituted, and Kenny Prince Redondo replaced him after 81 minutes. Six years later, Leitl and Reese are reunited. "I had a short, intense but very good time with him in Fürth and I have a very special relationship with the coach," says Hertha's winger. "Stefan and I have been in contact over the years and it has never broken off. We always said to each other that we hoped we would be able to work together again. Now it is the case."

In the summer of 2019, the loan for the then 21-year-old ended, Reese first returned to Schalke and six months later to his youth and training club Holstein Kiel. In the summer of 2023, he went to relegated Hertha BSC on a free transfer - after signing months earlier in the expectation of moving to the top flight.

Leitl was promoted to the Bundesliga with Fürth in 2021 and moved on to Hanover after relegation in 2022. He always kept an eye on Reese's career. "I'm extremely pleased with his development," says Leitl. "Fabi has developed incredibly. He was slowed down a bit by his injury, but you can see what he can give to the team. Now it's about him staying fit, getting even more into the rhythm, concentrating on his performance and simply being there for the team." Reese, captain against 1. FC Nuremberg (0-0) , kept the armband on his arm on Friday evening even after regular captain Toni Leistner was substituted on.

Reese is confident about the rest of the season from the first appearance under his old and new coach. "You could already see the signature," he says. "Above all, you could see a team that plays very intensely, that is alive, that wins the ball a lot, that is keen to take the stadium and the fans with them, and that knows that it needs victories and is prepared to go beyond the pain threshold to achieve them."

Leitl's first few days were characterized by a lot of communication and a helpful dose of information. "He had a lot of one-on-one conversations," said Reese, "and told many parts of the team in isolation what he expected. Clear, short commands, unambiguous." Exactly what Hertha needed. On Sunday (1:30 p.m., LIVE! on kicker), Leitl's "power football" (Reese) should also bring goals in the away game against SV Elversberg. Reese knows what is needed for that: "We have to be a bit more precise and forceful in the final third, then we will win the games."