Full steam ahead for the run-in

Full steam ahead for the run-in – HSV’s players returned to team training on Tuesday with this motto. Head coach Steffen Baumgart gave his players four days off over the international break weekend in order for them to recharge their batteries for the end of the season and to be able to head into the crucial weeks of the season with a clear head and fresh legs. “It’s important that the boys completely shut down once more,” explained the head coach, who sent his players away for the extended international break weekend with individual training plans. 

The Rothosen are consequently beginning the final part of the season at full throttle – and therefore first of all their preparation for the upcoming game away at SpVgg Greuther Fürth. Five intense days of training are in store for Baumgart and his team up until the away game in Fürth, during which HSV’s international players will be returning gradually. Laszlo Benes, Anssi Suhonen, William Mikelbrencis and Nicolas Oliveira were still absent on Tuesday, but the team should have a full complement of players available from the middle of the week. Additionally, the recently injured Noah Katterbach, Jean-Luc Dompe and Stephan Ambrosius have already returned to parts of training – they completed individual sessions on the pitch at the Volksparkstadion on the day off on Monday. 

“We will increase their workload bit by bit,” Baumgart said following the first session. “However, I’m not currently expecting them to be available for Fürth. That’s because it’s important to me to gradually reintroduce my players following an injury when possible. That way they are able to get back to their full fitness and back to playing at their best in the long term.” The same applies to Ignace Van der Brempt, who is currently completing a rehabilitation programme. Of course Steffen Baumgart is hoping for his players to make a full return as soon as possible so that the team is close to full strength for the run-in.