Back three impress, will HSV still find room for Elfadli? | OneFootball

Daniel Elfadli’s comeback presents HSV with a luxury problem. After nearly a month out, the 28-year-old is pushing for a place in the starting eleven again.

Elfadli already got 23 minutes of match practice in the 1:4 defeat against TSG Hoffenheim, and there could be more for him against Eintracht Frankfurt. The only question is: in which position?

Ironically, it was during Elfadli’s absence that a very specific combination seemed to have established itself in HSV’s back three. Nicolas Capaldo, Luka Vuskovic, and Jordan Torunarigha especially impressed in the home games; it was only in Sinsheim that the Hanseatic defensive unit made several serious mistakes. And even in central midfield, at least on paper, there is no spot left to fill.

Coach Merlin Polzin is nonetheless aware of the value his returning player brings. “We missed his power. You notice it immediately—whether in training, in the locker room, or on the pitch. He is definitely ready to play,” the coach emphasizes.

Nur die Raute – All the latest HSV news

HSV against Frankfurt with no changes in defense?

At the same time, Polzin posed the decisive question himself: “Whether we want to change the back three again to bring him in. Or whether we were satisfied with what we saw.” The recent performances against top teams like Borussia Dortmund (1:1) and VfB Stuttgart (2:1) could be seen as an indication of personnel continuity.

SGE also has the edge in terms of personnel, will likely have much more possession, and push the Red Shorts deep into their own half for long stretches of the game. In matches of this kind, the combination of Capaldo, Vuskovic, and Torunarigha has recently proven to be reliably solid.

There’s also the fitness aspect. Elfadli hasn’t been able to train fully this week, which is why Polzin is weighing his options: “I still have to decide whether it makes sense to start someone who will be exhausted after 60 minutes. Or whether you have someone you can bring on after 60 minutes to inject fresh energy.” According to Bild information, much points to a substitute role. The cards will be reshuffled during the winter break, as Warmed Omari will return to the team as another defender in January.

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