The dreaded second year? Polzin puts HSV players on notice! | OneFootball

Top-flight survival has been secured, and the return to the Bundesliga has been a success. But at HSV, nobody wants to make the mistake of resting on the achievements of last season.

At the start of the training camp in Helsingør, Denmark, head coach Merlin Polzin made it clear that the Red Shorts are facing a new challenge: the often-cited dreaded second year.

Statistics do show that Bundesliga newcomers are relegated more often in their first season than in their second. HSV’s new board member for sport, Kathleen Krüger, also recently pointed out that clubs that survive their debut year in the top flight usually have a better chance of staying up. Even so, Polzin knows the dangers that can lurk after a successful first season.

“These weeks will determine how we start the season and who we want to be,” the 35-year-old said at the beginning of pre-season during a media round. In his view, whether HSV can continue its development depends above all on having the right mindset. “Taking the next steps after a great first year in the Bundesliga is only possible with the right attitude and high standards.”

Photo: IMAGO

HSV coach Polzin: “We want to win every day”

Polzin knows that the element of surprise has largely worn off. Opponents, stadiums and coaches are no longer unfamiliar. “Now everyone knows what happens when they come to Hamburg. And we know what it’s like when we go to Dortmund, for example. What matters now is how we want to present ourselves,” the HSV coach emphasized.

To that end, he is already noticeably tightening the reins in pre-season. According to the club’s internal season review, intensity and transition play in particular were not at a satisfactory level. Polzin is therefore demanding even more consistency in daily training. “The question is: What standards do we set for ourselves, and what is non-negotiable?” he said. His goal: a team that sets the highest standards for itself. “We want to get better every day and pay attention to every little detail. We want to win every day.” With that, the tone has been set for the coming weeks.

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