In the top 10 of the best HSV clippers
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Sorted out, substituted, scored to win – and against his former club: these are emotional days for Robert Glatzel. It was a “very strange story,” said the Hamburger SV striker about his decisive goal to advance to the DFB Cup round of 16. The Glatzel case – it moves the Hanseatic people. Now even more so.
After a good hour, the attacker came in as a joker in the hard-fought game at 1. FC Heidenheim on Tuesday, seven minutes before the end he converted a – albeit controversial – penalty kick to make it 1-0 (0-0). Three days earlier, in the 1-0 defeat in the Bundesliga against VfL Wolfsburg, Glatzel wasn’t even in the squad. For the first time when he was fully operational. Sometimes football is “crazy,” said the 31-year-old. He had to let this evening in Heidenheim sink in. On the “Sky” microphone he spoke of a “roller coaster of emotions”.
Glatzel has scored 81 competitive goals for HSV since his arrival in the summer of 2021. The offensive man has been one of the crowd’s favorites for years. Recently he was hardly in demand under coach Merlin Polzin. The course of the game also helped him in Heidenheim. After the red card against Tim Siersleben (44th minute), the Swabians retreated further, so the qualities of a penalty area striker were needed – those of a Glatzel.
It was a “very nice moment” when his teammates jumped on him in rows after the winning goal and congratulated him, the veteran revealed. “I’m extremely happy for Bobby,” said teammate Miro Muheim.
HSV coach Polzin is happy about Glatzel’s qualities and competition
Glatzel was celebrated by the fans with chants after the game. The support from supporters was “incredible,” he said. He had already felt this in the days before on social media. Will Glatzel be allowed to play more often again? On Sunday in the away game against fellow promoted team 1. FC Köln, for example? Coach Polzin basically has a different style of play in mind. First and foremost with Ransford Königsdörffer, who has so far been scoreless in the league, but is faster and has better running behavior. And then there is the experienced newcomer Yussuf Poulsen, who cannot yet play 90 minutes, but is now ahead of Glatzel in the striker rankings – at least until last weekend.
“I know what qualities Bobby has,” explained Polzin after advancing in the cup. “And I’m very, very happy that he’s one of us.” Contractually speaking, this is still the case until 2027. With his 81 goals, Glatzel made it into the historical top 10 of the best HSV goalscorers – in the 2nd league he leads that ranking with 73 goals, well ahead of Sonny Kittel (34 goals) and Bakery Jatta (25 goals).
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This is how it goes
It’s not just the discussion about Glatzel that concerns HSV, but also the question of how all creative players could find space in the starting lineup. The convincing Deadline Day additions Fábio Vieira and Albert Sambi Lokonga have given Polzin completely new opportunities that now need to be incorporated. “The situation is outstanding. We have a large squad,” Polzin is quoted by “Bild” as saying about the comfortable competitive situation. “If you see the development from the start of the season to now, then the boys have taken steps. It’s a lot of fun to watch our team play football.” And: “Something has grown together both with and against the ball, which doesn’t make the decision on individual positions any easier. I’m happy to be able to make one or the other decision for the game on Sunday.”