Merlin Polzin has been the boss of the HSV coaching bench since Monday – for the time being. He wants to lead the “Rothosen” back to winning ways against Hansa Rostock.
After many years in the second row, the spotlight suddenly turns completely on Merlin Polzin. First of all, the 33-year-old will take over as interim successor to the dismissed Tim Walter – it cannot be ruled out that he will become boss permanently. However, this requires victories. The first success should come in the away game at Hansa Rostock on Saturday (1 p.m.).
“It was a very intensive week in terms of working with the team and everything that happened in the dressing room,” said Polzin at the press conference on Friday. Personally, he was disappointed to have suffered a setback on the “great journey together” – but he still wanted to “give the boys a sense of security for everything we plan to do. The opportunity is definitely there to do things even better make.”
HSV coach Merlin Polzin: “The team is extremely intact”
Tim Walter “did a lot of positive things,” said the 33-year-old, and shaped him as a person and coach. “As HSV, we want to stand for courageous and convincing football. It is important to make certain adjustments now to give the boys self-confidence, especially in moments when the opponent has the ball.”
Polzin only had positive things to say from the locker room. “The team is extremely intact, the boys work fantastically together. There is a feeling of unity in the dressing room for HSV, for the diamond. We know that HSV is important to them and that they are trying a lot.” The Bramfeld man was correspondingly satisfied with the training week. “We worked really well.” It was also important for Polzin to give HSV the “defensive desire” that has been clearly missing recently.
This is how HSV wants to win at Hansa Rostock
In Rostock we want to get three points if possible. Polzin didn’t want to think too much about what an opportunity the game could be for him: “For me as a young Hamburger and HSV player, this is a special situation. But I’m the coach of the club here and not as a fan. For me, that’s it The focus is on following our path. Rostock is a team that will demand everything from us – and that’s what the week was all about.”
The 33-year-old said his opponent Hansa Rostock was of high quality, especially because of the “extreme” experience in the squad. “They have an interesting mix in terms of size and speed.” HSV must appear dominant and courageous.
Merlin Polzin left it open who will be in goal on Saturday in the Ostseestadion. A week ago, Matheo Raab surprisingly replaced previous number one Daniel Heuer Fernandes. The decision should only be made after the final training in the afternoon. HSV captain Sebastian Schonlau, who has been training with the team again this week, is to be introduced back to action “bit by bit”.