“HSV 2.0” must be different: Polzin names the biggest issue | OneFootball

HSV look back on a successful first Bundesliga season after returning to the top flight. They secured survival comfortably, and for long stretches the Rothosen appeared stable and hard to beat.

Even so, head coach Merlin Polzin still sees considerable room for improvement. Speaking to HSV.de, the 35-year-old explained that his coaching staff had thoroughly reviewed the past season. In the process, clear findings emerged. “Our controlled phases were top-level — good attacking, good defending,” Polzin initially concluded. However, there were problems in the moments in between. “We were too slow mentally and, for various reasons, couldn’t reach the necessary intensity.”

This analysis is also backed up by the numbers. With a total running distance of 3,898.6 kilometers, HSV were the weakest-running team in the entire Bundesliga. They also finished bottom of the league for intensive runs, with 20,816 actions. These figures were partly a result of their often defensive basic setup, including a deep-lying back five. At the same time, though, they showed that after seven years in the second tier, the team could not completely adapt to the demands of Bundesliga football within a single summer.

Photo: IMAGO

Polzin calls for “HSV 2.0”

This is exactly where Polzin is now focusing his attention. The current pre-season is centered around greater intensity and even more dynamism. The HSV coach spoke of a particularly demanding session at the training camp that even reached “historic” levels. “Based on the data analysis, it was the most intense session we’ve had since taking over in November 2024,” Polzin revealed.

The coach was especially pleased with his team’s response. “The boys were fully on board with it,” he praised. At the same time, Polzin made it clear that this workload would become part of everyday routine going forward. “HSV 2.0” is meant to embody different qualities than last season’s side. “That’s what we demand and expect from ourselves. We won’t accept anything less,” said the Hamburg native.

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