Press Conference

A victory will be tough to pull off

During a press conference ahead of the home game against Arminia Bielefeld, Christian Titz discussed the competition for places in central defence, his options up front and a possible replacement for Jairo Samperio.

Christian Titz has been preparing the team methodically for their upcoming opponents. The coach extended the final training session before the home fixture against Arminia Bielefeld on Sunday evening to acclimatise the players to an extra hour of intensity. The tie against the East Westphalia side won’t just be “a tough victory to pull off”, but HSV will have the late 20:45 CEST kick-off to negotiate as well.

To maximize his team’s concentration levels, Titz is granting them a relaxed night at home before the game. “The matchday morning is so long that it becomes a real struggle to get through, if were we stuck in a hotel. I know that they’ll benefit a lot from a good night’s sleep in their own beds”, explained Titz. The team will convene at the Volksparkstadion tomorrow and make their way to the team hotel, before everything kicks off in the evening. Titz disclosed how his side must adjust, what they should expect of the opposition and which players will be available during the press conference

The 47-year-old coach spoke about…

… squad availability: The news on our long-term injuries is now known. Matti Steinmann and Josha Vagnoman are both not fit to return but will be up for selection over the coming weeks. Other than that, all the players are fit.

… Aaron Hunt: Aaron’s also back from injury. He gives us a lot more scope for variation up front. The opponent and the way the flow of the game will play a part in that, too. He’s proven that he’s an attacking threat. With Pierre-Michel Lasogga and Fiete Arp, we have another pair of options. Lasogga’s main strength is his play in the box, whilst Fiete’s particularly good at operating between the lines. It’s great to have so many options available to us.

… the competition for places in central defence: We have three candidates for right-centre back. I wanted to get an impression of Stephan Ambrosius in the DFB-Pokal match. Leo Lacroix and David Bates both trained really well this week which has given me some selection headaches. Ambrosius will not be in the squad because he played yesterday for the U21s. The rest of the players are on a level playing field, each with their own different strengths.

…the game: It is fundamental for any team, who want to compete at the top end of the table, to win their home games. It can help to further consolidate your position in the table. We should not get too down about the first match against Kiel. These games can sometimes happen. We want to try and put the defeat against Kiel behind us, with a home win.

…the opponents: Bielefeld are a very compact team, who are very disciplined and won’t give you any room on the pitch. They have two very important and hard-working central midfielders that will pack the midfield. In the transition period, they have two forwards in Vogelsammer and Klos who can both hold the ball up and keep possession well. They have proved over a full season that they are overall a very good second-division team, who can beat anyone. Therefore, we have to go into this game with full respect so we can be the ones that decide the outcome of the game.

…the fan friendship: I know that there are also fan friendships between other clubs. I read yesterday that the fan groups of both clubs organised an away trip to Hungary. That shows how strong the power of football is. I am pleased that we have a game tomorrow against a team that the fans have a close relationship with.
Caption: The fan friendship is further enforced by the mascots. Christian Titz believes it is a positive thing, as he says: “It shows the power of football.”

…the league table, in relation to FC St. Pauli: I can understand that our fans will take a great deal of enjoyment if we overtake them in the league and I would like to fulfill this wish. However, I know that we have a difficult game tomorrow. The main focus is on Arminia Bielefeld and winning the game and it will be tough. The idea of overtaking St. Pauli is not our priority.

…a possible replacement for Jairo: I cannot predict what will happen. We currently have players in the squad that can play in his position and have quality. It makes sense to bring in new signings after a player is hit with a long-term injury. We have some ideas and there have also been discussions. If we manage to sort something out, I would be delighted. However, if we are not able to sign someone else, I have complete trust in the current squad.