From top team to underdog: has HSV’s change of style paid off? | OneFootball

After being promoted to the Bundesliga, HSV announced a clear break with its previous football identity in the summer.

In the 2nd Bundesliga, still operating as an extremely dominant ball possession team with a natural role as favorites, the management was aware that this approach would only be promising to a limited extent in the top league. Instead of a high line and game control, defensive stability, transition moments, as well as more physicality and athleticism, were to take center stage.

This reorientation was already reflected in the transfer policy. Among the twelve summer signings, the focus was clearly on intensity, robustness, and mentality. Players like Nicolai Remberg, Nicolas Capaldo, or Giorgi Gocholeishvili were signed to bring exactly these qualities to the team. Rayan Philippe was to provide speed for counterplay, Yussuf Poulsen the necessary Bundesliga experience.

Only later did players like Fabio Vieira and Sambi Lokonga, whose strengths lie primarily in ball possession, join. Sports director Stefan Kuntz had justified this course early on: The physical metrics from the second league would not be sufficient in the Bundesliga to be competitive. "If you compare how many kilometers we have run, how many intensive runs, high-speed runs, and sprints we have, then we are not yet at the level where we can keep up," said Kuntz.

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HSV with many encouraging statistics

Several months later and after 15 matchdays, HSV is wintering in 13th place, with a four-point lead over the relegation spot. Statistically, it can be seen that parts of the system change are taking effect. Five counterattack goals (numbers via Bild) mean second place league-wide, and HSV is also among the strongest teams in duels and headers. The average defensive height of 32.48 meters also shows that the team deliberately defends deeper than many competitors. The high number of crosses and successful long passes meanwhile demonstrate straightforwardness after ball recoveries.

At the same time, deficits remain. Despite enormous physical presence, the promoted team is at the bottom of the table with only one header goal. And the running and intensity values are the lowest in the Bundesliga.

HSV has noticeably adjusted its style, but the implementation is not yet fully matured. After seven long years in the second league, during which the Red Shorts were almost always in the role of favorites, this fact is hardly surprising. With some promising approaches and a more than solid sporting starting position, the coaching team around Merlin Polzin can look back on the past half-year with satisfaction.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.