BERLIN, April 10 (Xinhua) — The scenes couldn’t have been more contrary in Berlin’s Olympic Stadium.

Felix Magath bravely played his role as a resistant rescue worker who never gives up no matter how desperate the situation might be.

“I don’t see that things are that pessimistic,” Magath said. “Our upcoming opponents are not at the level of Union Berlin; we will get our opportunities.”

“Not much has changed after this round of matches,” the 68-year-old added after his three games in charge, of which Hertha have lost two.

Magath tried to keep spirits up after seven defeats in eight Bundesliga matches, pushing Hertha BSC down to 17th in the table.

“Our competitors have lost games too,” the former Bayern Munich coach said.

Fans of the struggling Berlin club didn’t seem to share their coach’s optimism after losing a delicate derby. Unrest grew after a painful 4-1 defeat against local rivals Union Berlin.

Following their third defeat against Union this season, fans forced Hertha’s players to take off their shirts. The players, in their view, didn’t deserve to wear the club’s shirt.

Several apparently intimidated players followed the supporters’ provoking demands.

“We might be a group of players, but we are no team. I understand the fans’ frustration; we need to stand together in unity,” Magath said.

In the words of CEO Fredi Bobic, “a red line has been crossed” by fans. “Incidents like that affect players. We need to cool down and try to ease tensions,” the former German international added.

Despite Bobic’s appeal, tensions seem to be on the rise. A few weeks ago, fans invaded Hertha’s training ground and stopped a training session.

Hertha players said they followed the fans’ demands to cool down the overheated situation, they felt being pushed but intended to avoid further escalation.

“Humiliation or not, I just tried to avoid any physical confrontation,” midfielder Maximilian Mittelstadt reported.

While the club suffers from ongoing internal turmoil and failing investments of over 340 million euros, only five games remain to keep the side in the first tier.

The upcoming three games against relegation rivals such as Augsburg (six points ahead), Stuttgart (one point) and Arminia Bielefeld (level with Hertha on 26 points) might point the way for the Berlin club.

Unfulfilled expectations must be pushed aside, Bobic demanded, as Stuttgart, Bielefeld, and Hertha seem set to battle it out. “We won’t make it if we don’t get together again,” the former striker said.

Magath talked about a mental challenge ahead and announced plans to strengthen the players’ confidence and spread the message that all is not yet lost.

Hertha’s hopes now rest on victories in upcoming games to reach 15th place, or at least enjoy a second chance in 16th with the relegation playoff.

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