After transfer deadline: Polzin full of praise for Costa! | OneFootball

Shortly before the transfer window closed, HSV made several high-profile additions. Much to the delight of coach Merlin Polzin.

Following the signings of Fábio Vieira, Zakaria El Ouahdi and David Möller Wolfe, he can now rely on a squad that has the necessary quality both in terms of top-end talent and depth to avoid slipping deeper into the relegation battle. He accordingly spoke highly of sporting director Claus Costa: “I believe what Claus brings to the table is not only the quality of his work, but also the foresight with which he operates and the persistence with which he keeps at it time and again [...], that is outstanding.”

For the head coach, it is anything but a given to be “talking about players like this” already in the club’s second Bundesliga season after promotion. HSV did invest a considerable €30 million overall, but in return also welcomed ten new signings, almost all of whom have the potential to become regular starters. Costa and his team had “done a fantastic job,” Polzin enthused with regard to the squad overhaul.

Photo: IMAGO

HSV: Polzin sets high standards for himself

Even so, he asked for patience: “We are, once again, a kind of new team. It will take time again to build a connection with one another and develop a collective mindset.” However, HSV are immediately facing demanding tasks. On Sunday, FSV Mainz 05, who are very difficult to beat under Urs Fischer, visit the Volkspark. A week later, they travel to RB Leipzig.

So a start to the season with three matches without a win is by no means unrealistic. But with encouraging performances — and the results that usually follow from them — the Rothosen could make an early statement. Polzin is therefore also holding himself and his coaching staff accountable: “With the transfer window now closed, it is our job to make sure this happens as quickly as possible and that we integrate the boys, who undoubtedly have very high quality, into a team structure.”

Nur die Raute – All the news about HSV

To do that, they will remain true to the principles they have shown so far: “When we won promotion, we said that we wanted to be humble and represent a different HSV. What we definitely will not do is start talking as if our goals have changed and as if we are going to cruise through the Bundesliga naively.” The first half in Dortmund (0:2), when they had very little to offer, underlined that the Hanseatic side must perform close to their limit to keep up. After the break, HSV looked much improved and for long stretches delivered a performance by which they will have to measure themselves in the coming weeks.

Photo: IMAGO

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