Best defence in the second half, HSV star reveals stability secret | OneFootball

The numbers speak for themselves! With just 13 goals conceded in the second half of the season, HSV share the best defense in the Bundesliga with Borussia Dortmund and VfB Stuttgart.

But what lies behind this stability? In an interview with HSV.de, midfield ball-winner Nicolai Remberg tried to provide an answer.

For the 25-year-old, it all starts with the right mindset. “That you have to throw everything you’ve got into it,” he describes as the key factor. Especially when things are not going perfectly on the ball, the defense has to work all the more consistently. His own role is clearly defined: “I can always run back and chase every ball like crazy.”

This mentality runs through the entire team. Setbacks do not throw HSV off track. Quite the opposite. “If we go into halftime behind, you can see in the guys that no one lets their head drop,” explains Remberg. The balance is crucial. They have to apply pressure going forward without losing their defensive shape. “We push forward a lot, but at the same time we know how important it is not to concede another goal at the back.”

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HSV’s defensive strength “is decided in the mind”

According to Remberg, another success factor is the growing team spirit in defense. “When you see how we all throw ourselves into challenges, you develop a DNA where defending is something you actually enjoy too,” said the summer signing. This process has developed over the course of weeks and was sparked by targeted impulses from the coaching staff.

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He does not single out just individual players. “I could name pretty much everyone,” he says about the defensive line, which impresses through effort and mutual trust. “Of course, a lot of people praise and always focus on Luka (Vuskovic), because it’s so impressive how he dominates the air and heads every ball away.” But players like Nicolas Capaldo, Nordan Torunarigha, and goalkeeper Daniel Heuer Fernandes are just as essential.

In the end, one clear realization remains: HSV’s strength does not lie exclusively in a well-rehearsed system or tactical discipline. Or, as Remberg aptly puts it: “It’s decided in the mind: Do I really want this with full conviction?”

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