Season

Focus on Leipzig at home – squad update from the Volkspark

On Tuesday this week (24th February), Hamburger SV began preparations for Sunday evening’s Bundesliga home clash with RB Leipzig. A total of 27 players took part, including birthday boy Luka Vušković, who is available again after serving his yellow-card suspension.

The start of the new week of training was a lively one at HSV. Cheered on jubilantly by his team-mates, including youngster Otto Stange (pictured above), Luka Vušković was welcomed onto the pitch at the Volkspark with a guard of honour to celebrate his 19th birthday on Tuesday. The best present of all for the defender is surely the knowledge that he is eligible to play again after missing the match in Mainz through a yellow-card suspension. Four days after the 1-1 draw at the MEWA ARENA, the Rothosen returned to work and began their preparations for the Bundesliga meeting with RB Leipzig on Sunday (1st March, kick-off 19:30 CET). The task is simple if not straightforward: extend their current run of six matches without defeat as they host the side currently sat fifth in the Bundesliga table.

Training got underway with a session lasting around an hour, involving 22 outfield players and five goalkeepers. Two more players completed individual programs away from the main group with rehabilitation coach Sebastian Capel. Albert Sambi Lokonga continues his recovery from a lateral ankle ligament tear suffered during the 2-0 win away at Heidenheim on matchday 21, while captain Yussuf Poulsen worked through a lighter routine as a means of managing his workload. “Our aim with Sambi is that he can rejoin the team during the week and potentially be back in the squad for the weekend,” head coach Merlin Polzin explained afterwards, speaking to the media. “With Yussi, we’re paying close attention to his workload, given the long training week and his injury history. He’ll be back training with the team from tomorrow and will be available for the weekend.” Earlier on Tuesday, the recently sidelined Albert Grönbaek and academy product Shafiq Nandja had already completed their own individual programmes.

Out on the training pitches in the Volkspark, the squad began with a bit of fun in a lively warm-up before moving into small-sided games. After two days off, the Rothosen quickly got back up to speed, pushing one another throughout the session. “I’m really pleased about the level of competition within the squad,” said Polzin. “You naturally improve when you know that your teammate next to you is fully focused and performing in training as well. Everyone is fully committed. With midweek football coming up on the schedule and several matches ahead, we’re going to need every single person here.”

Following Sunday’s home match against the Red Bulls, another top side will head in the direction of the Volksparkstadion just three days later, when Bayer Leverkusen arrive for a rescheduled fixture (4th March, 20:30 CET). HSV will then travel to Wolfsburg on the Saturday to round off a busy week of football (7th March, 15:30 CET). Polzin and his players are approaching the run of games with a real sense of anticipation: “We’re looking forward to these matches and want to get as much out of them as possible. We know we’re facing two teams at the Volksparkstadion who are competing for Champions League places. Aside from managing the workload, though, we’re approaching each game individually and focusing on each challenge as it comes.” “We’re concentrating on RB Leipzig, and this fixture is a real highlight. We got a taste of their quality in the reverse fixture. They’re a very good side with a very good coach, and given their recent results, they may arrive with a bit of a point to prove. But we want to create more special moments here at the Volksparkstadion, and we’ll work hard this week to make that a reality.”

A new week of training has therefore begun at full intensity – with everyone firmly focused on Sunday’s home clash against a top-six side.