HSV await Vieira effect, Polzin addresses starting XI issue | OneFootball

All summer long, HSV fans eagerly awaited the return of Fabio Vieira. Now the Portuguese is here, but so far only as a substitute.

Vieira experienced the crushing 0-5 defeats against Mainz and RB Leipzig as a part-time player. In the home game against the team from Rheinhessen, he was only brought on in the second half, while in Leipzig he got just 17 minutes. The great euphoria following the emotional transfer announcement on Deadline Day has, for the time being, fizzled out — just like the mood around HSV as a whole.

Of course, it was clear that Vieira would not arrive at the Volkspark in absolute top condition. The 26-year-old completed the entire pre-season with his former club Arsenal and only rejoined the Rothosen after the start of the season. In North London, he had no longer played a role since the competitive season opener in mid-August at the latest. In the previous friendlies, however, he had at least featured regularly enough to attract potential interest. But those appearances were several weeks ago.

Photo: IMAGO

That is why HSV coach Merlin Polzin keeps stressing that his playmaker still needs a bit of time. That is completely normal, Polzin explained to DAZN after the 0-5 defeat against Leipzig, “when you work more individually during pre-season and can’t build up match fitness.”

HSV against Cologne with Vieira in the starting lineup?

And even though Vieira would not solve all of HSV’s current problems by himself, calls for him to be named in the starting XI soon are growing louder with every further negative result. DAZN presenter Benni Zander therefore asked Polzin whether that moment might already come next weekend against 1. FC Köln (Saturday, 3:30 p.m.).

“Fabio is making a super impression,” the HSV coach assured. “He will definitely use this week to get closer to 100 percent.” It is equally important “for his game and for ours” that the gifted technician reaches peak physical condition, Polzin emphasized. However, he did not give his player any guarantee of a starting spot. So HSV fans will only get a final answer to the Vieira question in the coming days.

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