"We want to bring our game through"

Second against first, seven league games in a row unbeaten against eight second league games in a row without defeat, Hamburger SV against SV Werder Bremen - the 110th North derby is a top match in the truest sense of the word and yet football is taking a back seat these days due to the situation in Ukraine. This was also the case at the beginning of today's digital press conference in the run-up to the match, which press officer Philipp Langer and head coach Tim Walter introduced with an opening statement before answering the sporting questions regarding the duel on the 24th second league matchday (live on HSVnetradio from 1.15 pm).

Tim Walter spoke in detail about...

... the situation in Ukraine: "These are very, very bad pictures. When you have children, it feels even more dramatic. It is very sad. There is nothing worse than war. We hope that somehow it will all end well. Hope is the last thing to die. It is difficult to put everything into words. There are more important things than football. Our thoughts are with the people who are suffering so much hardship in Ukraine.

    "There are more important things than football. Our thoughts are with the people who are suffering so much hardship in Ukraine."

... the opponents from Bremen: The Bremen team has a lot of experience and individual class in several parts of the team. We have to solve the problem collectively and defend, but at the same time we have to look after ourselves and play our game. We come through possession, courage and development. We know what we are capable of, we are convinced of our boys and look forward to a game like this because it helps us in all areas. 

... the expectations for the top game: It's a big game for the cities and the spectators. We know that. Nevertheless, we have to stay with ourselves and deliver our performance. We want to be focused and give it our all. Both clubs have a great tradition and have often faced each other. Accordingly, there is a certain sense of entitlement in both clubs. We're trying to get away from that as best we can and continue on our way. The spectators are also happy to come to the stadium in large numbers again. They have also developed. At the beginning, there was still a murmur in the stadium when we played out from the back. Now they know what's going on. It's nice to see how not only my team, but also the whole club and the supporters have developed.