Fun, games and skills: HSV’s colourful day in the Volkspark

The summer returned to Hamburg this morning – at least around the Volksparkstadion. With bright sunshine and pleasant temperatures, the Rothosen completed today’s team training. 23 outfield players, including U21 youngsters Maurice Boakye and Raif Adam, as well as three goalkeepers – namely Daniel Peretz, Hannes Hermann and Bennet Schmidt (also U21) – buzzed around the training pitches in front of numerous onlookers. 

Head coach Merlin Polzin didn’t have the full squad at his disposal: while Immanuel Pherai worked through his running exercises, Daniel Heuer Fernandes, Fernando Dickes, Jean-Luc Dompe, Yussuf Poulsen and Ransford Königsdörffer were all absent from training. The two aforementioned goalkeepers worked inside at the Rothosen’s training centre as their workloads were being managed, where the winger Dompe also continued his rehabilitation as a result of an ankle injury. New arrival Poulsen had to sit out again with a slight muscle strain, while forward Königsdörffer is on his way back to Hamburg after his move away fell through. “Of course he is once again part of our squad and our club. I’m upset for him, because HSV wanted to give him the chance to make that move,” explained coach Polzin while speaking to journalists. “It isn’t the first time in football that such a transfer broke down. Ransi is a consummate professional and understands how to deal with this situation. We have a positive, close relationship and we’ll discuss everything further in private. At the moment, I’m just looking forward to seeing him again.”