Luka Vuskovic: Celebrated in Brighton, missed in Hamburg | OneFootball

The realization was foreseeable. But after the 0–5 debacle against Mainz, it is more painful than ever: HSV is missing Luka Vuskovic.

Even during last season, it was clear that the Red Shorts would never truly be able to replace a player like the Croatian. The center-back’s performances were too dominant, his development too extraordinary. But the first two competitive matches without the 19-year-old ruthlessly highlight just how big the gap really is.

While Hamburg’s defense produced one individual error after another against Mainz and looked overwhelmed both collectively and individually, Vuskovic immediately established himself as a key player at his new club. In Brighton, the teenager has been part of the regular starting lineup from day one. He has started all five competitive matches of the current season. Last weekend, he even scored his first goal in the 1–1 draw against Leeds United, earning his team a point.

Hürzeler praises HSV favorite to the skies

That Vuskovic possesses exceptional sporting qualities surprises no one. In Brighton, however, they are especially raving about his character. Coach Fabian Hürzeler recently revealed in a conversation with Gary Lineker how much the young defender had already impressed him before the signing.

Photo: IMAGO

“I spoke with him several times before signing him,” Hürzeler explained. He quickly got a sense of “his character and his attitude.” “The boy impressed me a lot from the very beginning. He asked me questions, and I thought to myself, ‘Okay, he really understands the game.’”

Many HSV fans would likely agree with the former St. Pauli coach’s final verdict: “He has that winning mentality in him.” It was exactly that mentality the Hanseatic club visibly lacked against Mainz. Of course, it would be presumptuous to claim that Vuskovic alone would have prevented the thrashing. But a look at England once again shows what HSV has lost: a defender who could cover for others’ mistakes, hardly made any himself, and regularly scored important goals.

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