"We need reinforcements" – HSV women face immediate relegation threat! | OneFootball

While the men's team increasingly developed into a fully competitive Bundesliga team, the development of the HSV women is contrary.

They were absent from the Bundesliga for 13 years but started the season surprisingly strong. They immediately secured a 3:3 draw against top team Wolfsburg in the opener. Subsequently, the HSV women played on equal terms in many games and scored quite regularly. However, in recent weeks, both the points tally and the quality of performances have significantly declined. With only two points from the last ten league games, they are in a relegation spot at the winter break.

The gap to safety is only two points. It could have been reached on Sunday in the return match against VfL Wolfsburg. Accompanied by over 300 supporters, the HSV women played at their limit for almost an hour, hardly allowing the second-placed team to unfold. A long-range shot by Svea Stoldt even brought the lead in the 51st minute.

Coach sees HSV women "far away" from the competition

The probably game-deciding scene occurred shortly after when a beautifully executed counterattack led to the supposed 0:2 by Christin Meyer. However, the assistant referee flagged for offside, which turned out to be a wrong decision with consequences. The match then turned. The HSV women had to pay tribute to the high effort and the individual class of the opponents. A double strike by top scorer Alexandra Popp finally turned the tide.

In injury time, Kessya Bussy completed a counterattack to make it 3:1. "We played a good game for over 60 minutes and scored the 2:0, which was supposedly offside. That's a point that needs to be discussed. My team presented itself very well, we are on a good path, but that won't help us in the end if we don't get the points," said coach Liese Brancao.

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Points are already needed in the first competitive match of the new calendar year when the currently two points ahead competitor SGS Essen plays at the Volksparkstadion. By then, the team might welcome one or two new faces. "I do believe we need to strengthen. It is necessary in some positions," emphasized Brancao (via Abendblatt).

She added remarkably clearly: "I believe, squad-wise, we are far away from everyone else." Words that can be interpreted as clear criticism of Saskia Breuer, who is responsible for the squad composition. However, even with the current lineup, more than seven points would have been possible. In manageable home games against Jena, Nuremberg, or Cologne, the HSV women were far from their maximum. However, against strong teams like Wolfsburg or Leverkusen, they showed that they undoubtedly have Bundesliga quality. Regularly bringing this out of them is one of Brancao's tasks, who will also be challenged during the winter preparation.

Photo: IMAGO

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