"The boys know that this will not be a foregone conclusion".

After the first two match days in the 2. Bundesliga, Hamburger SV will kick off another competition on Saturday (kick-off at 3.30 pm) with the first round match of the 2022/23 DFB Cup at SpVgg Bayreuth, promoted from the 3.liga. A competition that the Red Shorts really filled with life last season, as Tim Walter's team was the only second-division team to reach the semi-finals (1:3 against SC Freiburg) and gave its supporters several special cup nights. No wonder, then, that despite the long journey, the HSV team is looking forward with great anticipation to Bayreuth, 420 kilometres away as the crow flies, or a good 570 kilometres by car. In the city of the world-famous Richard Wagner Festival, the Rothosen are nominally up against an underdog, but one that is made for surprises in this competition. Accordingly, Walter was warned at the pre-match press conference this Thursday afternoon and spoke about ... 

... the personnel situation: "Stephan Ambrosius already had muscular problems yesterday. It wasn't any better today, so he won't be able to play at the weekend. Elijah Krahn and Bakery Jatta are on the way to recovery, but there is no prognosis yet. Anssi Suhonen is also making progress and Xavier Amaechi was able to do a bit more today, was able to walk without pain. Mario Vuskovic will play with a thumb splint. He has been training fully. He is doing well and is fit to play. 

... the transfer of Robin Meißner: Robin is a super boy, has a good character and perspective footballing qualities. But it is important for us that the boy plays his games. More games than in the second half of the season in Rostock. There, he has already developed physically and football-wise. It is our goal that he can play more games in Cologne and become the focus of attention. We decided for ourselves and together with him that he should earn his stripes there. The boy is more important to us than the nominal number of offensive players, especially since we have many options up front: We can operate with a false nine or with small, fast games. Everything is possible.  

... the game in Bayreuth: We prepare every opponent conscientiously. I've already played against SpVgg Bayreuth as FC Bayern's U21 coach. I know the stadium, the local conditions. It's important that the boys know that it won't be a walk in the park. It's about football. The opponent doesn't matter because you have to take every opponent as if it were the hardest. For us, Bayreuth is the toughest opponent. We want to be there and win. 

... the spirit of the competition: It's a nice change to play in the cup. For the supposed underdog, it's always a great game to be able to play your way to the fore. We did quite well in this competition last season. We want to win games.