Season
09.07.24
HSV first team and U21s set to train together
On Tuesday, HSV's senior squad not only trained on the same pitch as the club's U21s, but also took part in various drills together with the reserves. The aim is to organise joint sessions more frequently in the future, in order to form closer bonds between the first team and the U21s.
"One of HSV's aims must be to develop their academy players so that they have a chance to one day feature for the senior side. I will make sure to pay close attention to this aim and will ensure it is addressed," is what HSV head of sport Stefan Kuntz had said at his introductory press conference back in late May. Over the past weeks, the 61-year-old has worked to familiarise himself with the club's academy set-up and been in close contact with head coach Steffen Baumgart.
High intensity
This aim was brought to life on Tuesday (9th July), as the HSV first team and U21s took part in a joint training session on the grounds of the Volksparkstadion. Drills such as an 11v11 match featuring four eight-minute quarters saw the players push themselves hard, as the senior players sought to come out on top, with the younger players looking to showcase themselves. "When you have two different teams playing against each other, then the intensity in training is different. No one from our U21s will take it easy on us, which helps us to prepare for our upcoming games," said Baumgart, who appeared pleased with how the session went. "At the same time, we are managing to form closer bonds with our academy players." Four promising young players in Otto Stange, Bilal Yalcinkaya, Omar Sillah and Fabio Balde travelled with the team to training camp in Schneverdingen and will also take part in pre-season with the senior squad.
Challenging the pros
Today's session, which saw the two teams train together at certain points, is meant to serve as a way to achieve Kuntz and Baumgart's aim of forging closer relations between the two teams. The Rothosen reserves, who count several talented players in their ranks, will serve as a semi-regular sparring partner for the senior side, in addition to helping add numbers in training or joining in on recovery training the day after a game. "We're open to everything when it comes to pursuing this project further. It's important that everyone recognises that we're on this journey together. We want there to be an even closer connection forged between our senior side and our academy," explained Baumgart.
"We want there to be an even closer connection forged between our senior side and our academy"
HSV head coach Steffen Baumgart
Loic Fave will also play an important role in forging this connection. He served as an assistant coach for the first team for much of the second half of last season, and is now taking over as U21 head coach ahead of the 2024/25 campaign. The 31-year-old, who has also been head of the HSV academy since the start of the year, said: “This connection between the first team and the U21s will be hugely beneficial for us. It gives the young players a chance to impress in front of the first-team coaching staff. They can also test themselves against the first team’s very high pace and intensity. If you do that more, you’re going to get better.” Today’s mixed training session will surely have made them hungry for more.