HSV star on El Mala: "We’ve faced better players before" | OneFootball

At the upcoming HSV opponent from Cologne, much revolves around the personnel issue of Said El Mala. The 19-year-old is one of the discoveries of this Bundesliga season.

For Jonas Meffert, the upcoming duel of HSV at 1. FC Köln is more than just an ordinary league match. The native Rhinelander spoke with noticeable anticipation about the weekend's game in a brief media round, while remaining factual and focused. "We won twice against FC last season. We want to confirm that now," said the 31-year-old. After two defeats in the league, the cup success in Heidenheim is expected to bring new momentum.

Particularly in the public spotlight is Cologne's rising star Said El Mala, who has attracted nationwide attention with strong performances. Meffert was impressed, yet unfazed. "I already saw him last year at Viktoria Köln. In the YouTube highlights, you could see that he is very, very good," explained the midfield strategist. Nevertheless, the HSV professional sees no reason for reverence: "We have already played against better individual players, especially against Leipzig and Bayern. Therefore, we should not be afraid of anyone."

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HSV Premise: "Winning is more important than playing beautifully"

Regardless of the opponent, Meffert knows that after two consecutive defeats, HSV should slowly start collecting points again. "In the cup, we showed that it simply comes down to winning. Winning is more important than playing beautifully. And that's what we want to do now in Cologne," the experienced defensive midfielder made clear.

This exact attitude is what the Red Shorts want to display at the Rheinenergiestadion. Will Meffert himself play a role in it? In the DFB-Pokal, he was at least able to play for 45 minutes again. "I enjoy playing football. But it's also fun here in training every day with the guys. Of course, I'm also happy if I get playing time over the weekend," explained the former key player.

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