“We’re now a normal second division team,” says the HSV coach
Status: 1:40 p.m
They don’t get along that well personally, but HSV coach Tim Walter and Sebastian Hoeneß, coach of VfB Stuttgart, greeted each other warmly in the first leg
Quelle: picture alliance/dpa
On Monday the decision about relegation and promotion will be made in Hamburg’s Volksparkstadion. VfB Stuttgart is preparing for a special situation, but has to do without a pillar of the regular team. HSV coach Walter recalls catching up.
An the day before the crucial relegation second leg between Hamburger SV and VfB Stuttgart (Monday, 8.45 p.m.), the coaches of both teams took a look at the starting position after Stuttgart’s 3-0 win last Thursday. An important point is the atmosphere in the Volksparkstadion: “It’s a nice stadium, there are great fans. Similar to what happened with us, this will now be another game in which the HSV fans in particular, who will be in the stadium in large numbers, will do everything they can to push their team forward,” said Stuttgarts Coach Sebastian Hoeness.
In any case, HSV coach Tim Walter has promised a self-sacrificing performance. “We have comeback qualities,” said Walter on Sunday. “We may not always get our best performance on the pitch, but we will fight to the end.”
The 47-year-old recalled the game against 1. FC Heidenheim in February, in which the Hamburgers converted a three-goal deficit into a 3-3 draw at the Volksparkstadion. To catch up again, all players would have to do their best, said Walter. A class difference against VfB is of course there: “We are now a normal second division team,” said Walter.
In addition to the long-term injuries Noah Katterbach (torn cruciate ligament), Andras Nemeth (fractured ankle) and Laszlo Benes (torn muscle fiber), Walter may also have to do without central defender Jonas David. The 23-year-old was “sickly,” said Walter. Anssi Suhonen will definitely not be there. The Finn saw a red card in the first leg and was suspended for two games.
But an important force is also missing in Stuttgart: first-choice goalkeeper Fabian Bredlow will be replaced by Florian Müller, as coach Sebastian Hoeneß confirmed on Sunday. “He’s not at 100 percent. It’s simply impossible that he can play in a game like Monday’s,” said the 41-year-old. Müller didn’t always make a solid impression in the first leg.
The clear victory in the first leg should be seen as a milestone, said Hoeneß. Under his leadership, VfB only suffered one defeat in the league. “The team hasn’t lost any pressure yet, because no games have been won at half-time,” said Hoeneß. “We have achieved a good starting position, that was our goal.”
Back to the scenery at the Volksparkstadion – his team has to prepare for that, according to Hoeneß. “It helps to know these scenes, but that’s definitely not the 2nd Bundesliga, which is what we’re going to get in terms of atmosphere in Hamburg,” he said.
