Sebastian Grønning on Hertha Berlin’s promotion ambitions, Stefan Leitl and his goalscoring instincts
Hertha Berlin have made a sensational start to the 2026/27 Bundesliga 2 campaign, going unbeaten across 10 matches - winning nine - to top the table. The Bundesliga caught up with striker Sebastian Grønning to discuss the capital club’s remarkable form, the influence of head coach Stefan Leitl, his own goalscoring qualities and the prospect of helping Hertha return to the top flight.
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Bundesliga: Hertha Berlin saw plenty of changes to the squad over the summer. Did you expect the team to make such an impressive start to the season?
Sebastian Grønning: “No, I wouldn’t say we expected to win nine out of 10 games and remain unbeaten. With every new season, there are always questions about your own team and the opposition. What have teams prepared? What quality have they brought in? We lost a lot of players and had to change our philosophy. But from the friendly matches and the first two games of the season, we got the feeling that we really had something we could build on.
“That confidence has grown from game to game and from win to win. It has given us the belief that we’re doing something right.”
Watch: Dynamo Dresden 1-2 Hertha Berlin - highlights
Bundesliga: What sets this Hertha team apart from the other sides competing at the top of the table?
Grønning: “I would say our philosophy is quite clear to every player in the team. We all know our roles, what we have to bring and what we have to do. That creates clarity for the players, myself included.
“When you put all those roles together, we have very good harmony and chemistry within the team. The way we’re playing together, both defensively and offensively, really suits the group of players we have this year. “For me, that’s the biggest difference compared to last season and also compared to the opponents we’ve faced this season. We’ve been in really good shape. In many games where we’ve been leading, we’ve still had more energy than our opponents.”
Bundesliga: Are you beginning to sense excitement among the supporters about the possibility of promotion?
Grønning: “Of course, we can feel that the fans are much more excited to watch us play this season. That comes with the wins, but also the way we’re winning and how we’re performing on the pitch.
“Personally, though, I haven’t felt that the fans are already getting carried away with the idea of promotion. I think they’ve experienced disappointment in the past. They’ve believed that good things were coming, only to be hurt or disappointed by Hertha. I think both the fans and the team have to stay calm and continue on this path, focusing on each game and putting our energy and effort into it.”
Bundesliga: Hertha have experienced some turbulent years, while city rivals Union Berlin have enjoyed success in the Bundesliga. How much would it mean to help Hertha return to the top flight?
Grønning: “It would mean a lot, that’s for sure. We feel that within the team, and I think every player feels the same way I do. To be part of the team that brings Hertha back where they belong would be something special. Hertha are a big-city club. They’re the biggest club in Berlin and one of the biggest clubs in Germany.
“They deserve to be in the Bundesliga, and the fans deserve to see Bundesliga football. Let’s see if we can be part of that history and bring the club back where it belongs. But the season is very long. We’ve played 10 games out of 34, so a lot of things still have to go right before that becomes a reality.”
Bundesliga: You’ve already beaten promotion rivals Heidenheim and Kaiserslautern this season. What kind of game are you expecting against Wolfsburg on Saturday?
Grønning: “Definitely a difficult game. Heidenheim was difficult, and Kaiserslautern was difficult too. It’s going to be one of the most interesting and exciting games of the season. It’s a top game between two teams with their own qualities. In the end, I think it will come down to who can control the opposition better and who gets off to the better start. That will be really important.
“We’ve beaten two or three other teams around us in the table, but Saturday is going to be very, very difficult. Of course, we go into the game with confidence from the way we’ve been performing and playing over the last few months. So I’m positive about the game.”
Bundesliga: Stefan Leitl previously guided Greuther Fürth into the Bundesliga. What makes him such a good coach?
Grønning: “First of all, he’s really good at recognising the players he has available and building a team around them. He’s also a very clear communicator. He’s clear about what he wants and what he doesn’t want. As I said earlier, every player knows their role this season and has bought into it.
“He’s very good at preparing us for games and understanding what’s coming. His tactical understanding and analysis are real strengths. He reads the game very well and prepares us for what we need to do. He’s also a funny coach away from the training pitch. He can joke with the players, and that shows another side of his personality.”
Bundesliga: Would it be fair to say that this is now more of a Leitl team, with the squad better suited to his philosophy?
Grønning: “Yes, I think that’s fair to say. The coach arrived towards the end of the season before last, and it’s not always possible to make your own impact on a team straight away. This year, I think he’s had a bigger influence in terms of recruiting players, establishing the style of play and bringing everything together. As I said, it’s about finding the right roles for the players and making everything fit.
“I can only talk for myself, but I’ve really bought into how we want to do things this season and into his ideas. I really want to play for him. I have the feeling that the rest of the team feels the same way. That’s the impression I get both on the pitch and at the training ground. So yes, I think it’s a fair statement.”
Bundesliga: Hertha’s victory over Kaiserslautern meant they had made the best start to a Bundesliga 2 season after 10 games. Were you aware of that record?
Grønning: “No, I didn’t know that. I knew there had been talk a few games earlier about potentially winning the most matches in a row, but I didn’t know we could make the best start in the history of the second division. Not many teams in any league start with nine wins and a draw.
“But you can always find statistics that make you the best at something. We’ve had the best start after 10 games, but maybe after 15 games we won’t have the best record. We’re just happy to be unbeaten and to have won nine of our first 10 games. Being the best in Bundesliga 2 history after 10 games doesn’t really give us anything in the end.”
Bundesliga: Kaiserslautern hadn’t conceded a single home goal before facing Hertha. Did you know about their impressive defensive record?
Grønning: “I knew they were very strong defensively and had kept a lot of clean sheets, maybe seven or eight. But I didn’t know they hadn’t conceded a goal at home.”
Bundesliga: You scored twice in that victory over Kaiserslautern. What do you remember about your goals?
Grønning: “I remember bumping into the post and celebrating with the fans! Often, when you score the first goal, you can control the game a little more and dictate how you want it to develop.
“So that was very important. And for me personally, after a period without scoring, it was nice to finally get back on the scoresheet.”
Watch: Kaiserslautern 0-3 Hertha Berlin - highlights
Bundesliga: How would you describe your biggest qualities as a striker?
Grønning: “I’ve been a striker my whole life, and I’ve always lived for goals. That’s my mentality and my passion for football: being decisive, scoring goals and making the difference.
“I think my qualities are quite simple. I’m a classic penalty-box striker. I need service into the box, and I’m very strong in and around that area with my finishing, positioning and timing. You could see that in the last game. Both of my goals were tap-ins from crosses. But if I’m getting the service and I’m in the right position, I know what I can do.
“Of course, my game has developed over the years in other areas too. I’m not a small guy, and I like to use my physicality to hold up the ball and play as a target man. But my biggest quality is definitely my finishing.”
Bundesliga: Even the best strikers are constantly looking to improve. Are there particular areas of your game that you’re still working on?
Grønning: “There are always things you can improve, and there are many things I can still improve. My biggest qualities are in the box, but every week and every day I work on the finer details to become even better. There are always angles where you’re not necessarily as strong when shooting, or situations where you know you can improve. I work on those things every week.
“Of course, there are also plenty of things I can improve outside the box, and I’ve been working on those throughout my career. But my main focus is scoring goals. I love shooting at goal, and I do that almost every day after training when the coach allows me to.”
