Glatzel on the Bundesliga challenge: We have to make a lot out of a little | OneFootball

Robert Glatzel was one of the defining figures of the past four HSV years. In an interview, he looked back on the turbulent time and spoke about the expectations for the Bundesliga.

On August 24, Hamburger SV will return to the Bundesliga after a seven-year absence with an away game at Borussia Mönchengladbach. What role Robert Glatzel will play is still open given the competitive situation in the attack. However, it is clear that the now 31-year-old has consistently convinced with his performance since his arrival in the summer of 2021. In 129 competitive games, he scored 80 goals and assisted 20 times for a teammate.

In the promotion season itself, Glatzel was absent due to injury for several months, but still managed to score ten goals. Nevertheless, he has exclusively positive feelings when talking about the past season: "I didn't imagine when I switched that it would take four years. The fact that it ultimately worked out for me with HSV is just nice. The images and moments from the Ulm game or the celebrations at Jungfernstieg are unforgettable. You can't experience anything similar with hardly any other club," Glatzel said in an interview with the HSV website.

(Photo by Selim Sudheimer/Getty Images)

The 1.93-meter-tall center forward described the promotion as a "unique experience" and added: "Especially when you think about how long we worked towards it, what friendships arose during this time, and how much we experienced as a team." However, the promotion squad will have changed significantly by the end of the transfer period. The HSV has already welcomed nine new signings to its ranks.

Glatzel is looking forward to the "challenge" Bundesliga

A new team feeling will have to develop in the coming weeks, which Glatzel is also aware of: "We are currently in a phase where we have to find and get to know each other again. We have to make sure that we succeed as quickly as possible so that we can work towards our common goal." It's essential to talk a lot with the new guys. "You have to be open to the other players, ask a lot of questions, and not just hang out with your buddies who you've known for a long time," Glatzel explained.

The new faces, many of whom have realistic chances of a place in the starting lineup, are to be integrated as quickly as possible, so that the HSV, which was not particularly convincing in the previous preparation, can compete from the start. What difference there is between the second and first league, Glatzel, who played 13 Bundesliga games for Mainz, emphasized once again: "The feeling was that you could hardly get to the ball if not all of us defended together as a team. Moreover, your own mistakes are punished much more severely."

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The HSV has to "make a lot out of little". Despite the difficult conditions, he looks forward to the "challenge" Bundesliga with enthusiasm: "The attractive opponents, the traditional clubs, the derbies, the full stadiums. The Bundesliga simply brings so much with it." Glatzel himself was active there during the Corona pandemic and only played ghost games: "That's why I'm looking forward to the 100% Bundesliga feeling this time. And finally to home games in the Volksparkstadion. It will be a great atmosphere when we play in the Bundesliga with HSV again."

The start is notoriously difficult. The away game in Mönchengladbach is followed by the city derby in the Volksparkstadion. "There's hardly a better start: The derby is one of the coolest games for me. The last two home games against St. Pauli are among the highlight games of my time at HSV so far," said Glatzel, who headed the winning goal in the last duel with the local rival. Similar special moments are needed to achieve relegation with HSV.

(Foto: Getty Images)

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