Interview

Tim Walter: "This is a really good construct".

In an interview, HSV head coach Tim Walter sums up the summer training camp in Steiermark, praises the entire Rothosen squad and sets the agenda for the period leading up to the start of the regular season.

When Tim Walter talks about the summer training camp in Steiermark that ended yesterday, a smile always flits across the face of the HSV head coach. The 46-year-old looks back on the ten training sessions and two test matches with almost unqualified satisfaction and now wants to build on the progress made in Hamburg. Tim Walter explained in an interview with HSV.de what the coach learned in the south of Austria, why the team is the winner of the training camp for him, and what the plan of action is for the period leading up to the start of the regular season.

Tim, to what extent did the 4:3 test match victory against Aris Thessaloniki round off a successful training camp for you?

Of course we were a bit too faulty defensively in the early stages, but the goals were very well played out. The way we create chances is sometimes unbelievably good. We always put a lot of effort into it, but of course we can't give our opponents any goals. But these mistakes are also normal to a certain extent, because the boys were really exhausted, which is why I admit to such blunders. Basically, I am more than satisfied with all the players.

How did you find the conditions in the team hotel "Das Sonnreich" and on the sports fields in Fürstenfeld and Söchau?

The surroundings were really optimal, and the weather was also good. We were able to train very hard and intensively and have therefore come quite far. The boys have further refined the idea of the game. The plan was to push ourselves to the limit when we were tired, and the boys did that well.
Tim Walter and Jonas David laugh. Despite the heavy workload, fun was not neglected in Steiermark. The example of Tim Walter (r.) and Jonas David can be seen here.

So can you say with a clear conscience that the winner of the training camp is not an individual player, but the team?

Absolutely. The team is always the centre of attention for us anyway. No one should take themselves too seriously, the team spirit is crucial. My coaching team, the staff and the other employees are also part of that. Everyone is doing a great job, it's a really good construct. In any case, a trust has developed that we want to convert into success in the next season.

In Steiermark, there were also many young players from the U21s, as well as Omar Megeed from the U17s and U19s. How did the youngsters do?

The good first impression has been confirmed, the youngsters have integrated seamlessly into the team. It's nice to see that we also have a few boys in our own ranks who can make the step up to the pros.

The first competitive match will take place in a fortnight. What adjustments do you want to make in Hamburg until then?

We have to shake off the fatigue and then simply improve our accuracy. We saw in the two test matches that we can still improve our precision offensively and defensively. We have to get rid of the individual lapses, but basically our tackling is good and we are on the right track.

Tim Walter und Jonas David lachen. — Trotz der hohen Belastung kam auch der Spaß in der Steiermark nicht zu kurz. Hier am Beispiel von Tim Walter (r.) und Jonas David zu erkennen.

Kann man also guten Gewissens sagen, dass nicht ein einzelner Spieler, sondern die Mannschaft der Gewinner des Trainingslagers ist?

Absolut. Das Team steht bei uns sowieso immer im Mittelpunkt. Es darf sich keiner zu wichtig nehmen, das Miteinander ist entscheidend. Da gehören auch mein Trainerteam, der Staff und die anderen Mitarbeiter dazu. Alle machen einen starken Job, das ist ein richtig gutes Konstrukt. Es ist auf jeden Fall ein Vertrauen entstanden, das wir in der nächsten Saison in Erfolge ummünzen möchten.

In der Steiermark waren auch viele junge Spieler aus der U21 dabei, dazu Omar Megeed aus der U17 bzw. U19. Wie haben sich die Youngster verkauft?

Der gute erste Eindruck hat sich bestätigt, die Youngster haben sich nahtlos in das Teamgefüge eingegliedert. Es ist schön zu sehen, dass wir auch in den eigenen Reihen ein paar Jungs haben, die den Schritt zu den Profis gehen können.

Das erste Pflichtspiel findet in zwei Wochen statt. An welchen Stellschrauben willst du bis dahin in Hamburg noch drehen?

Wir müssen jetzt erstmal die Müdigkeit abschütteln und dann in der Genauigkeit einfach noch besser werden. Man hat in den beiden Testspielen gesehen, dass wir in der Präzision offensiv und defensiv noch besser werden können. Die individuellen Aussetzer müssen wir abstellen, grundsätzlich passt aber das Zweikampfverhalten und wir sind einem guten Weg.