Press-Conference
05.05.17
"The first step always has to come from the team"
The official pre-match press conference ahead of HSV’s crucial Bundesliga matchday 32 home clash against fellow strugglers Mainz on Sunday afternoon was held in an unusual place. Rothosen coach Markus Gisdol discussed matters like team selection, the decision to hold a three day mini training camp in nearby Rothenburg and the importance of fan support.
Gisdol decided to set up a three day training camp in nearby Rothenburg ahead of the crucial home game against Mainz on Sunday (07.05.17, 3.30 PM) in an effort to pull the squad closer together. The Rothosen posse has been at the home of SV Rothenburg since Thursday and by all accounts things have gone well. The pre-match press conference was held in the conference room at Hotel "Landhof Wachtelhof" and Gisdol told the gathered media: "We will mobilise everything we have in order to create the right frame of mind and focus going into this game. The first step must come from us in order to get our fans right behind us. If we can do that the whole town will be behind us and carry us through."
Gisdol on...
... team selection: We expect to have Christian Mathenia, Aaron Hunt and Lewis Holtby, who required treatment today available for Sunday. Every player here in Rothenburg with us trained without any problems.
... the mini training camp in Rotenburg: We wanted to be on our own here. We took this measure in order to rekindle the team spirit that made us strong before our last three losses. The team signalled that they were ready for a change to the schedule so we came here. Luckily we have perfect facilities and conditions here and plan to do some things off the pitch together which are part of being a team.
... the current situation: The game in Augsburg shook us up. On the whole the team is not capable of producing a second half of the season at a Champions League level. That is why you can have a dip in form which we have to accept. We are trying to channel all of our strength into our next game. We will mobilise everything we have in order to create the right frame of mind and focus going into this game. This team has the ability to bounce back after setbacks and are ready to show a completely different side to the one shown in recent matches.
... the omission of certain players from the squad: The situation changed dramatically after the Augsburg game. We calmly analysed everything and decided to change the squad. We want to work with the lads we have here whom we 100% trust. We are convinced that they can create the necessary tension 100% energy and 100% willingness to give their all for the cause. That is the reason for the changes.
... pressure: Of course we are in a special situation which makes our sport so special. At the same time we have a huge chance to master this tricky moment in time. I have experienced several such situations during my career and have always managed to master them. You think about them your whole life and it is how I speak to my players about them. I want to show them that we have a huge chance to stay in the top flight even though we had been written off and declared dead.
... fan support: Of course we see the support of our fans in a positive way. The most important thing is that a spark must come from the team and reach the fans. We have done it many times in the past and they got right behind us and carried us through. The first step must always come from the team. We cannot expect our fans to roll out a red carpet for us and we know that you can only win games with your fans right behind you. We must make the first move in order to get the whole town behind us. We want to try to reproduce that situation.
... Mainz: The whole team carry the mark of their coach who has done sterling work there for years. It is the first time in such a situation for many of them and have not performed well of late. That is no secret and they have a team who quickly switch from defence to attack and are on the whole a stable unit. They live from their strong team spirit for which their coach Martin Schmidt must be congratulated on. It is remarkable.