HSV degrades defender Katterbach into the U21

When coach Merlin Polzzin asked his team on Tuesday afternoon for the first exercise unit after the 2-1 win against 1. FC Heidenheim last Saturday, the 24-year-old was already missing from his teammates. Polzin, sports director Claus Costa and sports director Stefan Kuntz, had told Katterbach before training that he was “temporarily” transferred “to the regional league team, as the HSV officially announced a little later.

“The measure applies for the time being and is not a fundamental decision, but a clear response to misconduct. For all players, it is equally necessary to subordinate everything together and the goals,” it said from the climber.

The Hamburgers were again susceptible on the defensive, but efficiently on the offensive – and have developed the first success in the Beletage since May 2018.

The HSV was guilty of details about said “misconduct”. According to matching media reports, those responsible for the Bundesliga club are said to have disturbed themselves from the body language of the former U21 national player in the past few days. The defensive specialist apparently worn the frustration over his reservist role.

The defender, who had fought back after a cruciate ligament rupture suffered in January this year, was only in the matchday squad once in the season so far. However, it was not used in the game at Bayern Munich (0: 5).

Instead, Polzzin trusted on the right on William Mikelbrencis, who was considered a seller for the Hamburgers a few weeks earlier. However, the Frenchman only slipped into the starting eleven because newcomer Giorgi Gocholeishvili was closed yellow-red. On the left defense side – Miro Muheim is set there – and in the defensive midfield (oversupply on players) Katterbach for Polzin was also not an option.

The defensive all-rounder suffered the injury in the Türkiye training camp. It is the second cruciate ligament tear for him in his HSV period.

Also Jatta and Co. without perspective

The 24-year-old is not alone with his frustration. In Bakery Jatta, Silvan Hefti and Gui Ramos, other players have already made it clear that they no longer play a major role in the planning of Polzin. However, the trio was not transferred to the U21. He had already demonstrated that the young coach did not shy away from this measure after his promotion from the coach to interim coach.

Levin Öztunali and Moritz Heyer from the professional squad as one of his first measures after the end of coach Steffen Baumgart stroked Levin Öztunali and Moritz Heyer last year. While Heyer moved to Fortuna Düsseldorf shortly afterwards, Uwe-Seeler-Kel Öztunali still plays for the fourth division team of the HSV-to full references.

Bloated squad ensures conflict potential

In any case, the Hamburgers communicated for Katterbach, but the way back is not blocked. “The association is convinced that Noah Katterbach will use the current break for reflection and will emerge again strengthened from this situation and can thus return to the professional team,” said HSV.

It remains to be seen whether and when the defender will be “pardoned” again. And it remains to be seen whether further HSV professionals Katterbach’s fate will share during the season. In any case, the squad is so large due to various purchases and borrowing with 30 players that some permanent reservists have to pay frustration almost due to a lack of sporting perspective.

The 18-year-old became hero in the victory of the Hamburg team against Heidenheim. He was handicapped in half one after a frustration campaign.

At the Bundesliga club, the former crowd favorite Bakery Jatta is on the fore. He would not be the first professional with whom HSV dealt with doubt.