HSV coach Walter under pressure – board member Boldt: “We can’t keep playing like this”

Three home defeats in a row

HSV coach Tim Walter is under pressure again, even if the chances of promotion are intact. The 3:4 against Hannover 96 on Friday evening was the third home defeat in a row and could result in the Hanseatic League losing contact with league leaders FC St. Pauli and the direct promotion place. Sports director Jonas Boldt refrained from making a clear commitment to the 48-year-old coach.

“Two minutes after the game, I won’t comment on it,” Boldt said immediately after the final whistle on the TV channel “Sky” about the personnel situation on the sidelines: “We have to fundamentally question the way we work. Of course a coach plays a very, very important role.” Before the winter break, they said “that we want to improve things. We managed it away, but not here (in our own stadium; editor). We have to change that as quickly as possible.” He made it clear: “We can’t keep playing like this.”

Walter has been HSV coach since 2021 and Frank Pagelsdorf last had a longer tenure at the club between 1997 and 2001. Walter scored an average of 1.82 points per game in 103 games, which is the best value in Hamburg’s second division history. Nevertheless, the “Rothosen” missed promotion twice under him – each time in relegation. If Walter, whose contract expires at the end of the season, is no longer allowed to continue, Steffen Baumgart is considered a potential successor. The 52-year-old, who coached 1. FC Köln until the end of last year, is reportedly ready to work in Hamburg.

HSV striker Glatzel on the late 3:4 against Hannover: “It’s stupid”

Jonas Meffert, who wore the captain’s armband again against Hannover because Sebastian Schonlau was still missing due to injury and Ludovit Reis took a seat on the bench, said about the defeat on Friday evening: “But if you concede four goals at home you have one or two more problems than just a problem.” The previous home game against Karlsruher SC was lost 3-4. HSV has conceded 31 goals so far and is therefore (as of Saturday lunchtime before kick-off of the second division games) only the eighth best defense in the league, while offensively they have scored 43 goals – in this respect they are on a par with Fortuna Düsseldorf as leaders.

Some HSV players were particularly frustrated by Sebastian Ernst’s late goal in the eighth minute of stoppage time, even though they were outnumbered after the red card for László Bénes (88′). “It’s stupid. We want too much at that moment and are also one man less. You have to take the point with you,” said striker Robert Glatzel.

And goalkeeper Matheo Raab, who surprisingly replaced Daniel Heuer Fernandes between the posts, said: “At some point during a game you have to understand that when you are down 0-2 and 1-3 you can come back to make it 3-3 , can’t play full risk again. Then you have to avoid simple ball losses and be clever.” To make matters worse, substitute defender Dennis Hadzikadunic was also sent off the pitch in the 16th minute of stoppage time due to a traffic light card.

Nicolò Tresoldi (11th), an own goal from Guilherme Ramos (21st) and ex-Hamburg player Louis Schaub (32nd) put Hannover 96 in the front before the break. Bénes (24th) scored the next goal at short notice with his eleventh goal of the season. Hadzikadunic (47′) shortened the score in the second half and Glatzel (86′) managed to equalize – then came Ernst.

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