Season

One final aim for HSV this season

HSV have begun preparations ahead of the final fixture of the season away to SpVgg Greuter Fürth, where the Rothosen will hope to crown the campaign by securing the second-division title.

Not every day of training begins with a raucous reception but that is how the Rothosen were welcomed for their session on Thursday (15th May). Smiles were wide as ever as around 300 HSV fans cheered the squad on from the side of the training field. Head coach Merlin Polzin had granted the team a few days off following the 6-1 in Ulm which secured promotion to the Bundesliga. As is only right in sports, when one has worked so hard and for so long to achieve an aim, one is rightfully allowed to celebrate that when the time comes. Nevertheless, as well as looking back upon the triumph of last weekend, there is one final target in sight, namely crowing an already great season in the best way possible – by winning the second-tier title.

The Rothosen received a very warm welcome for the first training session since securing promotion.

One final challenge awaits in the Rothosen’s promotion season of 2024/25. HSV travel to face SpVgg Greuther Fürth on Sunday, with all nine second-division fixtures kicking off simultaneously, as is custom on matchday 34 (15:30 CEST). The Hamburg-based club can ensure they keep 1. FC Köln at bay with a victory; however, anything less than a win for Köln away to Kaiserslautern would automatically hand HSV the title, regardless of the Rothosen’s result. The hosts at the Sportpark Ronhof will also have much to play for as they look to clinch safety. They currently occupy 14th spot and will have a keen eye on fixtures involving direct rivals Preußen Münster (in Ulm) and Eintracht Braunschweig (against Nürnberg).

HSV’s record second-tier appearance holder Bakery Jatta made his return to team training.

A total of 22 outfield players and three goalkeepers took to the training pitches at the Volksparkstadion as preparations began for the last match of the 2024/25 campaign. Winger Bakery Jatta completed parts of the session, while Noah Katterbach trained individually on the adjacent field. Ransford Königsdörffer, who netted a brace in Ulm, and midfielder Immanuel Pherai were working in the gym at the training centre. Team training lasted around an hour and consisted of numerous passing exercises to allow the players to get a feel for the ball once again. Polzin and his staff will gradually up the intensity ahead of Sunday’s matchday 34 fixture. “Winning the title is important to us. I think everyone at the club would like to have a photo with the second-division trophy in their hands,” explained sporting director Claus Costa at the start of the week. The Rothosen would love to be able to present the prize which is colloquially donned the ‘hubcap’ to their fans at the promotion party this coming Monday (19th May). The atmosphere there will undoubtedly be even more electric than at the start of today’s training.