Glatzel or Königsdörffer? Polzin says he understands the debate | OneFootball

HSV coach Merlin Polzin will also have to do without his captain Yussuf Poulsen against VfB Stuttgart. This means there will once again be a duel in attack.

Even three months after the start of the season, Hamburger SV is still searching for the necessary firepower in attack. Only nine goals in eleven league matches highlight the problem. Ahead of the demanding home game marathon against Stuttgart, Kiel, and Bremen, the question arises more than ever: Who will score the goals? BVB scorer Ransford Königsdörffer or veteran and fan favorite Robert Glatzel?

“On one hand, I can understand the debate, especially regarding the fans’ affection for one player or another,” Merlin Polzin explained before the duel against VfB. “On the other hand, I see how the guys give their all for the team every single day, and that’s what matters to me.”

So will Polzin choose Königsdörffer? After his long-awaited first goal of the season against Dortmund, he had an extremely unfortunate afternoon in Augsburg.

Glatzel, on the other hand, has barely featured this season and recently had to settle for brief appearances. Despite this situation, Polzin does not want to base the discussion solely on goals or playing time: “What matters to me is how both of them give their all for the team every single day.”

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Polzin drops interesting hints

However, the 35-year-old did indicate a tendency from a sporting perspective. He pointed out that Glatzel is particularly effective when HSV has a lot of possession and can frequently penetrate the penalty area. But that is hardly to be expected against a technically outstanding VfB Stuttgart. Instead, HSV is likely to rely on pace and quick transitions. This starting position clearly favors Königsdörffer, who, with his speed and work off the ball, appears to be the more suitable option on paper.

Things could look completely different just a few days later in the DFB Cup. Against second-division side Holstein Kiel, HSV will presumably control the game, which could allow Glatzel to benefit from more penalty area situations. At least, Polzin’s words suggest this: Königsdörffer will start against Stuttgart, while Glatzel will likely play in the cup.

Meanwhile, a third attacking option could soon emerge: Yussuf Poulsen partially returned to team training on Friday and, according to a Mopo report, could already return to the squad against Kiel.

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