Pre-Match report
04.03.19
On the hunt for 3 points at home
After five weeks out, the HSV captain Aaron Hunt is finally available for a return to the starting eleven. With Aaron back in the team, HSV will be looking to get their sixth home win under Hannes Wolf.
Aaron Hunt has only played 21 minutes of football in 2019. In the first home game of 2019 against SV Sandhausen, the captain came on in the 69th minute. However, with a heavy heart, the captain has had to watch the remaining games from the sidelines. “This situation is always the worst thing for a footballer, especially as things haven’t been going to plan recently,” said Hunt before the upcoming home against ScVgg Greuther Fürth (20:15 CET). In the past four games without the midfielder, HSV only have one victory (against Dynamo Dresden) and one draw with Heidenheim. FC. Köln beat Erzgebirge Aue to go top of the table, whilst Union Berlin have moved up to second, leaving HSV level on points with FC St. Pauli. However, with the captain back, HSV will be looking to get their fourth home victory under Hannes Wolf.
Averaging 2.18 points a game with Hunt in the team
“We are happy that Aaron is back. His injury affected us. We hope that he can get back to his best immediately and help the team. The other players are better when he is on the pitch because they know what passes he can play, and his character and experience helps the other players too,” said Hannes Wolf in the press conference prior to the game. This season, when Aaron Hunt has been on the pitch, HSV have averaged 2.18 points. Without their captain, their average falls to 1.17 points. It is a clear indication of how vital he is for the team. “We need him in good shape, because he can create things out of nothing, assist and score,” emphasised Wolf. Aaron Hunt also recognises his role in the team: “I know that I can help the team with my playing style.” The captain returned to full training 10 days ago and has fully recovered from his muscle injury and is in line to make his comeback against Fürth. “We have to do what we are better than other teams at: play with the ball at our feet. Over the last few weeks, we’ve lost a bit of the confidence that we had in the first half of the season. But, I am completely sure that we can get back to how we used to be.
With the return of Aaron Hunt, Hannes Wolf has another option in his squad, although he will have to replace the suspended duo of Orel Mangala and Vasilije Janijicic. It looks like Gotoku Sakai will move into the midfield as a result. “He is a leading figure in the team and always gives 100%. He is fully fit and has played in that position before.” Khaled Narey will most likely play as a full-back instead of Sakai.
Fürth unbeaten in three games
Stefan Leitl, who has recently taken charge of Greuther Fürth, will only be without Yosuke Ideguchi (knee injury). All of their other injury concerns have returned to training, including Tobias Mohr (4 goals and 4 assists so far this season), who tore a ligament in his knee before Christmas. Fürth are unbeaten in their last three games since changing their head coach. After defeating MSV Duisburg 1-0 in Leitl’s first game in charge, they drew 2-2 with Holstein Kiel before also being held 0-0 by Heidenheim. “We are confident and pleased with how we have played recently. This confidence will be key for the next game too,” said the former FC Ingolstadt player in the pre-match press conference. “HSV are definitely a top team with a lot of quality. We can get something from the game if we frustrate them enough,” said winter signing Paul Seguin.
“They have played aggressive and attacking football since they changed their manager. They did well against Kiel and Heidenheim; two teams who are right up there. They will put us under pressure and try to get forwards,” said Wolf, full of respect for the opponents. Aaron Hunt believes that not much can be taken from the 0-0 draw in Fürth earlier this season. “We can’t really analyse the reverse fixture, as both sides had different coaches and were in different situations. Fürth play in a compleltely different way now and we are stronger and more solid. Naturally we want to get the three points at home,” commented Hunt, who desperately wants to help his side gain the next home win.
Potential Fürth team: Burchert - Sauer, Magyar, M. Caligiuri, Wittek - Jaeckel - Reese, S. Ernst, Green, Redondo - Keita-Ruel
Referee: Christian Dingert (Lebecksmühle)