Team

“He’s desperate to help” – Grönbaek shows there is more to come

The Danish attacking player offered a glimpse of his quality on his debut and feels like a new signing for HSV in the closing weeks of the Bundesliga season. Sporting director Claus Costa has also praised the attitude of a player who has had to battle through a frustrating spell.

Albert Grönbaek did not need long – or many touches – to make a real impression on his HSV debut against Augsburg last Saturday. Introduced shortly after Miro Muheim’s red card, the Dane gave the Rothosen a clear lift going forward during his 23-minute cameo and produced one really exciting moment for the packed Volksparkstadion with a powerful volley from distance. The atmosphere in turn made a big impression on the loanee who joined during the winter transfer window. “It was an incredible atmosphere. I’m proud of the way the team handled a difficult situation. And I’m also pleased to have made my debut. It was a great feeling to be back on the pitch for 20 minutes after such a long time,” said Grönbaek.

The 24-year-old had to wait far too long to make that debut as the 466th Bundesliga player in HSV’s history. After loan spells at Southampton and Genoa, the eight-time Denmark international joined HSV on loan in the winter from parent club Stade Rennais, hoping to give fresh momentum to a career that had been slowed somewhat by injuries. “This is a big opportunity for me. I had good conversations with Claus Costa and Merlin Polzin, and I could clearly see how I’d fit into the system. I I’m full of excitement about getting started,” said Grönbaek back in January after joining.

"He’s hugely motivated to be here"

The fact that his start was delayed for so long by a muscle injury was frustrating for everyone involved. As Costa explained while speaking to the media on Tuesday (7th April), nobody felt that frustration more than Grönbaek himself: “When he got injured with us, you could see how much it hurt him. He was genuinely upset and disappointed. I’ve rarely seen a player show that so clearly. He’s desperate to help. We can all see the huge commitment that Albert brings. He’s hugely motivated to be here. Every fibre of his body is burning with the desire to play for HSV.

That determination was clear to see against FC Augsburg as well. “We were pleased that, on his debut, he gave a first glimpse of that desire to make a positive impact,” Costa noted, before adding a note of caution when it came to the loanee’s longer-term outlook. “We can’t expect him to have three shots every time he plays 20 minutes. You don’t judge a transfer after 25 minutes – you judge it after a few weeks. It’s still too early to draw any conclusions, so we need to wait to see more of him. But we’re very happy to have him, and we hope he stays fit and healthy. Everything else will take care of itself.”

Grönbaek himself knows his performances will shape what comes next. “I feel fit now and I’m looking ahead to the next few games with confidence. There’s a great feeling around the club. The team and its culture are exceptional – that’s not something I’ve experienced everywhere in my career. Everyone is pulling in the same direction,” said Grönbaek as he looked ahead to the Bundesliga run-in. For HSV, the attacking player feels like a new signing at just the right time. And despite the difficult start, he now has a second chance to help bring a happy ending to the season for HSV.