Playmaker not at his best: how HSV aim to get Vieira fit | OneFootball

The current international break may be coming at exactly the right time for HSV. While a total of nine players are away with their national teams, a different program is on the agenda for some of the professionals.

Specifically, this means they are supposed to work in a smaller group, make up for physical deficits, and get fit. This applies in particular to Fabio Vieira. The Portuguese player is the undisputed marquee signing of the past summer. HSV paid nine million euros to make the playmaker’s move permanent, and after his strong second half of last season, he is seen as a major beacon of hope. So far, Vieira has not been able to live up to those expectations, for understandable reasons.

In his appearances against Mainz, Leipzig, and Cologne, the 26-year-old still lacked the natural ease with which he influenced games last season. According to Bild, the coaching staff are not entirely satisfied with his physical condition. The main reason lies in his summer at Arsenal. There, Vieira did not train regularly with the team for an extended period and was unable to complete key parts of preseason preparation to the usual extent.

Photo: IMAGO

That is why the three-week break from competitive matches is now set to be used to gradually make up the ground he has lost. While some regular starters such as Nicolai Remberg or Daniel Heuer Fernandes are getting extra days off, Vieira is set for an individual program with an increased training workload.

HSV coaches demand more from Vieira in defensive work

This is not just about pure endurance. Those in charge also see clear room for improvement when the team is without the ball. The playmaker is expected to contribute more consistently in defensive work and track back with the same intensity he shows going forward. According to Bild, the coaches are using training sessions to specifically target exactly these aspects.

Even so, there is still a sense of calm at HSV. Last season as well, Vieira needed some time before reaching his best physical level. The hope at the Volkspark now is that this international break will have the same effect. If so, the creative force could soon once again become the difference-maker he was last season.

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