Out with applause - full focus on the final four

It just wasn't meant to be. This is how it felt for all HSV players when Deniz Aytekin blew the whistle in yesterday's DFB Pokal semi-final against SC Freiburg (19 April, 1:3), sealing the elimination of the Red Shorts. In the 94 minutes beforehand, head coach Tim Walter's charges tried their best, but failed several times to make the most of their chances and made too many individual mistakes between the 11th and 35th minutes, which were unfortunately punished directly by a top team like Sport-Club (5th in the Bundesliga). Nevertheless, the HSV fans gave the team an encouraging round of applause after the final whistle, and the indomitable fighting spirit and the performances shown in the DFB Pokal season were appropriately acknowledged.

In the fifth match, the historic journey through the tradition-steeped and prestigious competition, which the Rothosen wanted to win again for the first time since 1987, came to an end. With quality, a bit of luck and an irrepressible will, Hamburg had played their way into the final round, and especially the three showdowns in the penalty shootout between the 2nd round and the quarter-finals (in Nürnberg, in Köln and against Karlsruhe) will remain in the memories of many protagonists and supporters for a long time. The bottom line is the best performance since the 2018/19 season (1:3 defeat against RB Leipzig in the semi-finals), but the desired trip to Berlin on 21 May was missed because the guests from Breisgau gave HSV a blueprint of what is possible with an effective and mature performance. It was certainly no coincidence that SCF coach Christian Streich relied mainly on his experienced players in the most important match of the season so far - and he was not disappointed: Nils Petersen (33), Nicolas Höfler (32) and Vincenzo Grifo (29), of all people, scored the goals and showed the young HSV team (all starting eleven players under 30 years old) which steps still have to be taken in the initiated and recognisable development.   

The first chance to prove their learning curve comes next Saturday (23 April, kick-off: 1.30 p.m.), when the Walter men have to prove their resilience at SSV Jahn Regensburg. The team from the Upper Palatinate resembles the Freiburg team in its style of play and is also extremely aggressive and tactically disciplined in its 4-4-2 system. In addition, a point win would secure a place in the league for coach Mersad Selimbegovic's team (39 points so far, 9th place), so the rested Jahn have a desirable goal right in front of them. But the same goes for HSV - who want to turn the disappointment of their DFB Cup elimination into positive energy. So that an unconditionally good feeling can then unfold again after the final whistle.