Glatzel on bench role: Others are ahead of me for now | OneFootball

Robert Glatzel was a constant presence at HSV for several years. However, since the club’s return to the Bundesliga, he has barely received any playing time, something the striker spoke about openly.

So far, he has only accumulated 57 minutes of playing time in the current Bundesliga season. Yesterday, Robert Glatzel was in the starting lineup for the short-notice friendly match against VfL Osnabrück. However, his 72-minute appearance was far from satisfactory. The 31-year-old failed to make any significant impact in the 1:3 defeat. Nevertheless, he remained positive after the match (via Abendblatt): “There’s nothing better than being able to play football. Even if the result wasn’t what we had hoped for.”

In the near future, Glatzel is likely to spend more time on the bench. He was already unable to get past the still goalless Ransford Königsdörffer. Now, with captain Yussuf Poulsen also back, the long-time goal scorer is only the third-choice striker. His playing style doesn’t fit with the new, much more defensive approach of Merlin Polzin. From the coach’s perspective, his work off the ball is a weakness.

Nur die Raute – All the latest news about HSV

Glatzel acknowledges his weaknesses

Additionally, HSV is focusing on quick transitions, for which Königsdörffer is better suited due to his high speed. “I’m not going to sprint 35 km/h anymore, and I’m not going to become a pressing monster either. If that’s what’s needed now, then others are ahead of me,” Glatzel admitted openly. Since his arrival in the summer of 2021, he had always been one of the key players, scoring a total of 73 goals in 115 second-division appearances.

The Munich native has now come to terms with his new status: “That’s just the business. Of course, it hurts a bit more when you’ve been a leader here for four years and always had the goal of playing Bundesliga football here. But there are a few others who are in a similar situation.” For example, Jonas Meffert also lost his starting spot, while Bakery Jatta doesn’t even have a chance to make the squad. Former captain Sebastian Schonlau even left the club in the summer.

Photo: Getty Images

Similar to Meffert, Glatzel, who is under contract until 2027, is proving to be a team player and fair towards his still unsuccessful competitor: “Ransi and I get along well. He’s always been a top team player, and that’s why it’s up to me now to support him.” Nevertheless, he continues to wait for his moments, which may not come very often anymore.

Photo: Getty Images

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