Press conference

"Dortmund are the cream of the crop"

At the official ,press conference ahead of HSV’s Bundesliga m,atchday 5 home game against table-toppers Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday night, Rothosen boss Markus Gisdol discussed team selection, his expectations from the game, his out of form captain and the qualities of Borussia.

HSV are halfway through the first "English week" of the new season where teams are playing midweek and weekend games. After losing 0-2 against high-fling newly promoted Hannover 96 away from home last Friday night, the Rothosen now host table-topping Borussia Dortmund at the floodlit Volksparkstadion on Wednesday night(20.09.17, 8.30 PM). Dortmund like Hannover are the only teams to have taken an impressive 10 points from their opening four matches. Borussia have a perfect goal difference of 10-0 making them the best team in Germany’s top flight: "We face the side which is the cream of the crop in Germany. They are playing teams off the park and playing superb football", Gisdol told the gathered media in the press room inside the Voklksparkstadion. The 48 year old head coach knows that despite missing key men through injury: “Looking at the game from our point of view we have nothing to lose and but only win. Using courage and our fans right behind us we can hurt them.”

Markus Gisdol on…

Striker Bobby Wood could return against Dortmund.

… team selection: There is a good chance that Bobby Wood is available again. Apart from that the players who have featured in recent games are in good shape. Albin Ekdal sat out training yesterday due to the continuing back problem which has troubled him for some time. We will have to see how he feels after training. Nothing more to say apart from that young Törles Knöll is playing for the under-21s tonight so will not be available for selection.

… Keeper Christian Mathenia: It’s absurd to question a keeper who performed superbly for us last season game after game. So he made one mistake the kind of which non-keepers make all the time. I don’t need to treat him any differently or to build him up. The important thing is to keep things in perspective and not let them be blown out of proportion.

… the Dortmund game: The anticipation is huge. After a while it becomes just annoying having to constantly talk about players missing through injury. We have enough players and will field a good team. Of course Borussia are in amazing shape at the moment but I think we can only win in the situation. We have tools to trouble Dortmund and will give our all to do so. Using courage and our fans right behind us we can hurt them.

Borussia Dortmund are the top side in the Bundesliga. They beat Cologne 5-0 last time out.

… Dortmund’s quality: We face the side which is the cream of the crop in Germany. They are playing teams off the park and playing superb football. We must be wary of their incredible capabilities. They have incredible pace in every position and a lot of quality men. But their way of playing can leave them vulnerable in defence and we must try to exploit that.

… more time off for HSV: We might be slightly more rested after having had two more days off than Borussia. On the other hand Dortmund have the quality and strength in depth in their squad to make changes without decreasing the quality of the team. We will see whether that plays a role or not.

… Rothosen skipper Gotoku Sakai: As usual "Go" is always ready for his comeback. We have held good discussions with him. The international break took its toll on him and during the start of the season and the pre-season period he was not in very good form. You just have to admit that players sometimes go through dips in form. Right now though he looks more fresh and if he gives me the impression that he is able to play again he will do so.