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Interview

30.05.17

"We are totally honest with ourselves"

In an interview with HSV sport boss Jens Todt, the former Bundesliga midfielder remembered the final game of the season just ended, analysed the season and explains where the priorities lie with regard to possible summer signings.

The team went on their summer holidays last Friday – not so Jens Todt. The Rothosen sport boss is now entering his most active phase of the year following the dramatic 2-1 home win over VfL Wolfsburg which saw HSV retain top flight status. That alone guarantees a better quality of player when the club makes its move in the transfer market. In a nutshell: It is easier to attract players to a top flight club. In an interview with HSV sport boss Jens Todt, the former Bundesliga midfielder remembered the final game of the season just ended, analysed the season and explains where the priorities lie with regard to possible summer signings.

Jens Todt, a little over ten days have passed since the dramatic final day of the season against Wolfsburg. How present are the memories of that day?

Todt: Very present. Yesterday in particular because I enjoyed watching the relegation play off second leg from the comfort of my sofa and didn’t have to sit on the bench in Braunschweig.

Can you put into words what the Volksparkstadion was like that day?

Not really. It was one of the best moments I have ever experienced in football. The tension which was released with the final whistle, the way the fans celebrated and the reaction of the players was totally unbelievable. The images are ever present. I still see my daughter rushing towards me in tears and hugging me. It was a very special moment for me.

Now its back to business as usual. Plans for the new season are in full flow right?

They are. No time for us to turn off and enjoy. It is our job to put together the squad for the coming season. The players are on holiday and have to put what was a very strenuous season behind them. We have to do our homework now.

Surely that is a lot. Because as euphoric the final game was it was the final game of what was a very disappointing season.

We must not fool ourselves. It was the fourth straight season where we have struggled to stay in the Bundesliga, somehow scraping through on each occasion with only cuts and bruises. We have to ask why it is that we always struggle. We now hope to make shrewd decisions and hope that we will not have such problems next season. We are totally honest with ourselves.

Rene Adler, Matthias Ostrzolek, Johan Djourou and Ashton Götz have not renewed their contracts and have left the club. How much of a transition will the club be undergoing this summer?

Until now only the above-named players are leaving us. I am certain that further changes will happen and we will keep all our options open. I cannot say who will leave and who will join us at this point in time.