Ex-goalkeeper Golz sees HSV at an advantage
In fact: After the extremely strong final sprint in the second division with five wins in a row, HSV caught up a deficit of seven points and managed third place in the table, which was hardly considered possible at the beginning of April. Hertha, on the other hand, seemed already saved and slipped down to the relegation place on the last day of the Bundesliga match. “The trend is your friend,” said ex-HSV goalkeeper Richard Golz in an interview with NDR. “You saw in the first leg that Hertha had a lot to lose and that it was a burden for the players. They seemed very paralyzed to me.”
“I would wish Felix Magath to be successful, but not against HSV.”
— Ex-HSV goalkeeper Richard Golz
Hertha coach Felix Magath disagrees and sees the situation psychologically in favor of the Berliners: “At the moment we’re out and can only win. Now HSV has something to lose,” explained the 68-year-old, for whom the relegation duels are like European cup games feel: “There are so many examples in football of making up for deficits after the first game.”
HSV coach Walter: “We are convinced of ourselves”
The pressure that Magath put on HSV was gladly accepted by his fellow coach. “Pressure is a privilege. We work to survive in such situations,” said HSV coach Tim Walter on Sunday. His team has “felt weeks of finals” and is accordingly self-confident and optimistic: “Everyone knows that we are totally focused on the game and feel incredibly excited. You saw what the boys are capable of. We are brave and convinced from us.”
“Everyone at the club is bursting with energy and we will bring that onto the pitch tomorrow.”
— HSV coach Tim Walter
Nevertheless, the 46-year-old warned against too much euphoria: “There is no time to think about a ‘what if?’ We’re only halfway through and we’ll continue on Monday.” After the first leg, it was important “to regenerate and regain power”. Walter also relies on the support of the fans in the sold-out Volksparkstadion: “We managed to emotionalize everyone and get them involved. Now we want to make the fans and the city happy.”