Hamburger SV

The 0:3 mortgage from the first leg actually weighs too heavily on HSV, after five years against the Bundesliga-16. to make the return to the football upper house. And yet Walter said on Sunday: “The boys have already suffered a few setbacks. And we kept getting up. We have comeback qualities.”

Is that enough for a miracle? Unlikely after Thursday’s performance in Stuttgart. Is that enough to at least end the project ascent 2023 with dignity – albeit unsuccessfully? Rather. “It’s only possible that we as a team have a chance if everyone can deliver 100 percent,” said Walter. That was not the case on Thursday. “We have to try to do better on Monday.”

Hoeneß expects resistance in the Volksparkstadion

According to VfB trainer Sebastian Hoeneß, it is unlikely that Stuttgart will do HSV a favor and gamble away everything in a fit of arrogance. “The team hasn’t lost any pressure yet because games haven’t been won at half-time,” he said. “We have achieved a good starting position, that was our goal.”

However, the coach, who took over the Stuttgart team in April as the bottom of the table, expects fierce resistance. In his opinion, the audience in Hamburg’s Volksparkstadion can become a factor. Once again the arena is sold out with 57,000 spectators.

“I haven’t been there as a coach, but as a neutral spectator I’ve experienced it before,” said the 41-year-old. “It’s a beautiful stadium, there are great fans. Similar to what happened with us, this will now be a game again in which the HSV fans in particular, who will be in the majority in the stadium, will do everything they can to push their team forward.”

HSV in front of an open future

His team needs to prepare for that. “It helps to know these scenes, but that’s certainly not the 2nd Bundesliga, which is what the atmosphere in Hamburg is about,” said Hoeneß.

Second division football in front of a first division backdrop – this is HSV’s perspective in 2023/24 if the miracle doesn’t happen. “We are now a normal second division team,” admitted Walter. If you take Thursday’s performance as a benchmark, the team has no place in the Bundesliga.

So it’s more exciting to see what happens after the definitive final game of the season. Will HSV tackle the sixth edition of the promotion project in the constellation with coach Walter and sports director Jonas Boldt? Will there be new millions from shareholders Klaus-Michael Kühne? Which players stay, which (have to) go?

Ludovit Reis is considered a farewell candidate who, according to the media, would bring in money of around seven million euros. Goal scorer Robert Glatzel (19 goals this season) is also said to be in demand. Midfielder Sonny Kittel will probably leave the club on the third try. No wonder, no dignity – the stoppage time at HSV promises a lot.