Polzin praises HSV star: “Creates a special atmosphere” | OneFootball

Hardly any player of the 2010s and 2020s embodies HSV as much as Bakery Jatta. He has long since earned the status of a club legend.

The Gambian is neither the most technically gifted nor the most dangerous finisher in the squad. Even so, he is a fan favorite, a figure fans identify with, and now the longest-serving professional in HSV’s roster. His extraordinary life story, which once brought him from Gambia to Europe, has moved many supporters, as has the years-long identity debate he endured together with the club. Above all, though, many admire the way he deals with setbacks.

Because Jatta’s time at HSV has been anything but straightforward in sporting terms. Time and again, he was written off or demoted. Yet under almost every coach, he managed to fight his way back. The same was true under Merlin Polzin. After the right winger had not even made the squad in the first 12 games of the season, he battled his way back. He appeared in 15 of the remaining 22 matches. Because he was repeatedly out injured or not fully fit for stretches in between, in the end there was only one match left in which he did not play despite being nominated.

Photo: Getty Images

Former HSV coach on Jatta: “Irreplaceable for a team”

It is exactly this mentality that Polzin values most. In a Mopo story about Jatta’s ten-year HSV anniversary, the coach describes his player as an important factor in the team’s inner dynamics. “With his calmness, he creates a special atmosphere when you’re around him—just like with his laughter, which is incredibly infectious,” Polzin said.

The coach also places great value on the 28-year-old in sporting terms. Jatta has qualities “that you can’t learn in any youth academy: his heart, his passion, and the energy to always want to win,” Polzin said appreciatively.

At the same time, Jatta remains a player of extremes. His technical shortcomings regularly cause frustration in the stands. Yet there are hardly any professionals whose commitment is questioned so rarely. Former coach Tim Walter also praised this quality: “He does everything for his team and is irreplaceable for a team.”

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