With his record hat-trick, Robert Glatzel finally shot HSV back into the promotion race of the 2nd Bundesliga. After four years in the second division, the return to the upper house should succeed this summer – also with the help of Glatzel’s goals on the assembly line.
The 28-year-old is one of the all-time favorites at HSV and has been on the pitch in all 21 games of the season so far. And even if the attacker, who was signed as Simon Terodde’s successor in the summer, initially had to struggle with initial difficulties, his form curve has been improving rapidly in recent weeks.
The German-Eritrean has scored eight of his 14 goals of the season so far in the past five games – including his sensational four-pack in the top duel at Darmstadt 98 last Sunday.
The centre-forward set a second division record en passant: like Nils Petersen (SC Freiburg) and Hans Haunstein (1860 Munich), Glatzel was successful three times in a row from the kick-off to the 13th minute.
The 28-year-old benefits from the playful, offensive orientation that HSV cultivates under coach Tim Walter. “I’m not so much the type of striker who stands in the box and waits, I like to play. We also create a lot of chances,” he said in an interview with “Sport Bild”.
HSV is working on the image of the unclimbable
The Bundesliga Dino, who was considered ineligible for a long time, is now working involuntarily on the image of the ineligible. HSV finished fourth in each of the last four seasons, and the Rothosen mostly gambled away their return to the Bundesliga with a weak second half of the season.
Everything should be better this year. According to Glatzel, the disasters of the past few years are “not an issue at all in the HSV cabin. There are too many new players and a new team of coaches here for that.”
At the same time, the attacker warned against hasty hymns of praise: “We haven’t achieved anything yet. We shouldn’t start celebrating in the current situation. We still have plans here.”
HSV right in the middle: promotion races closer than they have been for a long time
In the 2nd league, things are going to be as close this season as they have not been for a long time. Only two points separate the leader of the table from sixth. In a direct duel between the promotion candidates, HSV (4th) meets Heidenheim (6th) on Saturday with the same number of points.
In Ostwuerttemberg, Glatzel made his breakthrough among the professionals. He is looking forward to seeing this “special club” again, but also recognizes a risk of stumbling: “The Heidenheimers are underestimated, but that could be a weapon for them. They also have the advantage of having a well-rehearsed team with a well-rehearsed team of coaches Then there’s the location: It’s generally quieter there than at the big traditional clubs.”