Press Conference
23.02.17
"... only one way: Get stuck in!"
At the official pre-match press conference ahead of the matchday 22 trip to Bayern, HSV coach Markus Gisdol discussed team selection, his plan for the game and the class of Saturday’s hosts at the sold out Allianz Arena.
HSV are reeling from a flu bug which has affected several players ahead of their Bundesliga matchday 22 clash away to table-toppers Bayern Munich on Saturday (25.02.17, 3.30 PM). It seems that the game at the sold out Allianz Arena followed by Wednesday evening’s DFB Cup quarter final home tie against fellow Bunde4sliga side Borussia Mönchengladbach come at the wrong time for the Rothosen who have enjoyed good form in recent games. Determined as ever, Hamburg head coach Markus Gisdol told the media: “We will field our strongest possible team, but people seem to ask two questions of us. Will we rest players or throw caution to the wind and get stuck into the task. There is only one answer and that is the latter – to get stuck in!”
Gisdol on…
… team selection: We have had a flu bug around the dressing room for the past few weeks, which has forced us to improvise and swap players at short notice. I just hope that nothing else happens before the weekend. I am positive with regard to the inclusion of Albin Ekdal and Dennis Diekmeier because they will fully train today. The same goes for Aaron Hunt and Michael Gregoritsch. Taking Aaron out of training was a precautionary measure du to a muscular problem. Michael suffered a typical reaction. He felt a twinge following his recent hamstring problem. I think that Bobby Wood will be okay for the weekend but we must be careful. Papadopoulos looks unlikely to feature on Saturday.
… approach to the game: We had a similar situation ahead of our recent cup game against Cologne where we had to change six players in order to field our best team. We face the same thing ahead of the trip to Munich. We will field our strongest possible team, but people seem to ask two questions of us. Will we rest players or throw caution to the wind and get stuck into the task. There is only one answer and that is the latter – to get stuck in! We have the necessary courage to do well there.
… differences between Bayern and HSV: When you currently look at Bayern and ourselves we are ofcourse worlds apart. Even though we have had some decent resutls recently and Bayern seem to slightly stumble at times, it would be a huge mistake to underestimate them and to think that you could be successful by taking risks there. Bayern are as usual an absolutely top side – the best in Germany.
… the injury time discussion: I have heard about that discussion but did not see the relevant games live. It speaks for the quality of the team when they score a late goal by way of a superbly struck free kick. It is nothing to do with coincidence when Bayern manage to save them selves at the last possible moment. It just underlines their quality, which is why we will be trying to reach the final whistle on Saturday without giving away any fouls and substitutions so that the referee can blow time on the game after ninety minutes hopefully with a positive result for us (broadly grinning).
… striker Pierre-Michel Lasogga: Many players suffer a dip at some time. Pierre sustained a serious muscular problem at the end of the Dubai training camp and had to be carefully be gradually brought back to fitness again. That is why he still has some catching up to do. Other players in his position have done well and in the end it is all about performance levels. Pierre has not let his head drop in any training session and is a good presence in the dressing room. If he carries on the way he is I am sure that he will become valuable to us again. There are plenty of examples of players on the fringe standing in the spotlight once again. That happens quickly especially to strikers.