HSV coach under fire: Germany World Cup winner backs Polzin! | OneFootball

On Friday, HSV extended head coach Merlin Polzin’s contract early through 2029. Not all fans are happy about it.

Many supporters consider the move premature in light of the disastrous start to the new season. Others, meanwhile, complain that the contract should have been extended much earlier, before the current crisis. Either way, the timing ahead of the pivotal match against 1. FC Köln (Saturday, 3:30 p.m.) is causing debate. If HSV lose for a fourth time, they face an extremely uncomfortable three-week international break. Criticism of Polzin would likely continue to grow as well.

Former Germany international Benedikt Höwedes can only understand that to a limited extent. The 2014 World Cup winner came to the coach’s defense on host Johannes B. Kerner’s podcast “Kerners 11”. “Last year, HSV really played a very good first Bundesliga season, developed really well, and played good football under Polzin. They play with courage,” Höwedes praised.

Photo: Getty Images

Höwedes compares HSV with Schalke

From the perspective of the current TV pundit, the club leadership around sporting director Kathleen Krüger and sports director Claus Costa firmly backing Polzin and his team is the only right approach. “That’s why, of course, it makes no sense to sack him immediately,” said Höwedes. “I think it’s absolutely right and logical that they are being patient and showing trust in the coach. In this case, that makes complete sense.”

The former FC Schalke captain highlighted another point. “When I see that Louis Lemke is already playing at 16, they are also trying to bring young talents into the team,” he explained approvingly. In fact, the 16-year-old started both of the team’s first two competitive matches this season.

Despite all the positive words, Höwedes knows that this season is solely about avoiding relegation. In doing so, he draws a comparison with his former club, which has only just returned to the Bundesliga: “I think it’s very good that Schalke and Hamburg have come back to the first division with great humility and aren’t swaggering in with big mouths.”

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