In the fifth attempt it should finally work – Hamburger SV is the big promotion favorite in league two. At the start it goes to promoted Eintracht Braunschweig.
If not now then when? For the first time since the bitter relegation from the Bundesliga in 2018, Hamburger SV is the absolute top favorite in the second division. Most recently, the Hanseatic League failed four times in a row to get promoted. This year it should finally work.
Experts, coaches and players agree that the only way to get there is via the North Germans. “The goal is promotion,” said HSV keeper Daniel Heuer Fernandes before the opening game at promoted Eintracht Braunschweig on Sunday (1:30 p.m.) in the “SID” interview and added confidently: “We want to accept the role of favorites, we have that the quality.”
HSV strengthens itself on the transfer market
Most recently, the Hanseatic League have only just failed in the relegation to Hertha BSC. At 7.2 million euros, HSV spent three to four times as much on new players as the competition.
In addition, important pillars such as midfield strategist Sonny Kittel and top scorer Robert Glatzel – 27 competitive goals in his debut season – were retained. “It’s an outstanding sign from Bobby and also from Sonny,” said Heuer Fernandes, who was behind the best defense (35 goals conceded) in the second division last season.
The defensive loan players Mario Vuskovic and Miro Muheim were signed in the summer, the already strong offensive – third place with 67 goals last season – is strengthened by the new signings Ransford Königsdörffer and Laszlo Benes.
“He can make us better,” said coach Tim Walter about ex-Gladbacher Benes, who he trained in Kiel for six months and who is supposed to help HSV with his dangerous set pieces.
“The relegation hurt”
As the last second division team, Hamburg started preparations on June 20th, a full four weeks after the games against Hertha BSC. “The relegation hurt and it took a while for us to shake it off as a team,” said Heuer Fernandes. But Walter took the team with him “right from day one” and “exuded anticipation for the new season”.
That was noticeable, in the final friendly, the Hanseatic League won 5-1 against top Swiss team FC Basel. The team wants to take this performance into the opening game in Braunschweig and “be fully there,” said Heuer Fernandes.
The HSV caught a supposedly weaker opponent at the start. Newly promoted Braunschweig around coach Michael Schiele was hardly active on the transfer market in the summer and is considered a relegation candidate. “We know that every game will be difficult, but of course we want to show what we’re capable of,” said Heuer Fernandes.