"Challenger" HSV wants to win the third time against VfL Wolfsburg
HSV can secure its third consecutive home win against Wolfsburg today. Coach Merlin Polzin, however, demands at least as much concentration from his team against the struggling VfL as they have in recent weeks.
HSV took a step during the week to smooth out the transitions in the future. To ensure that "our players are closely supervised," as sporting director Claus Costa put it. The person responsible for this is Tom Mickel. However, the former (reserve) goalkeeper for the "Rothosen" will do this not on the field, but off it.
The 36-year-old will be working for Hamburg as the transition coordinator, ensuring that young talents make their way into professional football—ideally at the newly promoted Bundesliga club.
"We're still lacking a bit in terms of efficiency, so we need to take further steps forward."
Off the pitch, HSV has set a small course for interlocking and transitions. They intend to continue this on the pitch in their home game against VfL Wolfsburg (3:30 p.m., on the NDR Live Center ).
After the individual parts of the team coexisted more than they harmonized at the beginning of the season, Polzin's team has made noticeable progress in terms of integration and transitions in recent weeks. There were some good approaches in the 0-0 match at Union Berlin , they repeatedly succeeded against a desolate Mainz side (4-0), and they also performed very well in the narrow 2-1 defeat at Leipzig .
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The defense was solid – and especially in the second half, HSV repeatedly managed to force the Champions League hopefuls back into their own half after winning the ball. But, as substitute playmaker Immanuel Pherai reasoned, there's still a lot to do: "We applied pressure, but the final pass just didn't find its way."
The final transition, according to the Dutchman, was (still) lacking. Furthermore, efficiency was a problem, as left-back Miro Muheim noted: "We're still lacking a bit in that area; we need to take further steps forward."
Polzin wants to "get points, not just play well"From the perspective of the Swiss and his coach, these challenges should now be taken against the struggling VfL, a team that has so far only rarely used its undoubted potential this season .
Polzin doesn't want to be blinded by the fact that Wolfsburg have suffered four consecutive defeats. The Wolves have "fantastic individual players" and a high level of quality, which they must counter with the same determination as in previous weeks. "It will be a tough fight."
In the duel with the Lower Saxons, the newly promoted team is "definitely the challenger. We're not going to downplay ourselves. We know what we can do, but we also know what we can't do yet and where we need to start."
While Polzin acknowledges that "we can compete in this league—regardless of the opponent—we can only do so if we give our all." Despite the recent solid performances, the 34-year-old urged humility: "We know where we come from. Nevertheless, we don't just want to play well, but also get points at the end."
Sambi Lokonga in good shape recentlyIt's a heightened sense of self-confidence that has emerged from the increased self-awareness of recent weeks. One in which Albert Sambi Lokonga has also played a part. The Belgian-Congolese midfielder, who celebrated his 26th birthday on Wednesday, has organized and structured the North Germans' game alongside sweeper Nicolai Remberg in the last two matches – and his coach is pleased "that he's made such an impact."
Deputizing for the suspended and injured Fabio Vieira, he also scored two goals. And so the newly 26-year-old will be in even greater demand on Saturday, playing an even better role in the transitions up front – to Ransford-Yeboah Königsdörffer, Jean-Luc Dompé, and top scorer Rayan Philippe (who turned 25 on Thursday). According to Polzin, returning Vieira will be eligible for a spot in the squad, but he's unlikely to be in the starting eleven initially.
Gocholeishvili becomes the new mask man of HSVAlong with Sambi Lokonga, Giorgi Gocholeishvili was also in good form before the international break, until a facial injury slowed the Georgian down and forced him to sit out the game against Leipzig. Now the 24-year-old could make his comeback against the Lower Saxony side – provided a special mask is ready in time. Gocholeishvili could thus become the mask man, continuing a "tradition" at the storied club from last season.
In the year of promotion, Davie Selke and Jonas Meffert each had to wear face shields after sustaining facial injuries. Whether Gocholeishvili will be in the squad or even play directly will be decided at short notice. First, they have to wait for Friday's training session.
There, as has been the case so far this week, the topic of "how we can develop more goal-scoring opportunities from transition play" will surely be discussed again. How well Polzin and his team succeed in this will be revealed on Saturday – and thus, to some extent, answer the question of whether HSV will be able to put a few small steps in place for transition play, not only off the pitch but also on it.
Possible lineupsHamburger SV: Heuer Fernandes - Elfadli, Vuskovic, Capaldo - Muheim, Remberg, Sambi Lokonga, Gocholeishvili - Dompé, Königsdörffer, Philippe VfL Wolfsburg: Grabara - Kumbedi, Jenz, Koulierakis, tenth - Vinicius Souza, Arnold - Daghim, Svanberg, Amoura - Wind
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