“Risk greater than the reward”: ex-pros slam HSV’s Polzin plan | OneFootball

Merlin Polzin’s contract extension, along with that of his coaching staff, is official. HSV confirmed it on Friday afternoon.

In doing so, the Rothosen sent a clear signal despite the poor start to the new season, with zero points and a 0:12 goal difference. However, the timing of the extension is causing intense debate. Former Bundesliga pros Martin Harnik and Max Kruse voiced clear doubts about the decision made by Hamburg’s officials on the podcast “Flatterball”.

Harnik described the move as premature in light of the recent results. The team’s performances at the start of the season had been “really bad,” and the side currently does not look settled. That is why the former HSV striker said he would have put the extension “on hold” for the time being.

Kruse can also only partly understand the decision. “It’s a sign of solidarity from HSV. Yes, we trust our coach. Yes, we want him to turn things around,” said the traditionally outspoken former pro. But after three defeats and, most recently, two 0:5 thrashings, he does not consider a long-term extension until 2029 “the right signal.” His recommendation: “They can show trust by keeping him in the job.”

Photo: IMAGO

Harnik was particularly blunt when looking at the Rothosen’s latest performances. In his view, the club’s new board member for sport, Kathleen Krüger, should have reassessed the situation after the debacle in Leipzig. In the fast-moving football business, decisions should not be set in stone. His conclusion was correspondingly critical: “The risk is greater than the opportunity.”

HSV defends Polzin against critics

At HSV, they see the situation very differently. Krüger strongly defended the extension on Friday. “We communicated our fundamental commitment clearly early on and repeatedly again more recently,” the board member for sport explained. “Trust does not mean that results become secondary, but is based on critical reflection.” That is precisely why the contracts had been extended “with full conviction.”

Krüger is convinced that Polzin and his coaching staff enrich HSV “with their expertise, their meticulousness, their hard work, and their daily passion.” Even so, it is only natural that the Hanseatic side must find a way out of their sporting crisis as quickly as possible. In the upcoming home match against 1. FC Köln (3:30 p.m., Sky/RTL), they can take a first step in that direction.

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