Post match reactions

“It sums up our Rückrunde“

HSV have missed out on the chance of promotion after a 4-1 defeat away to SC Paderborn and players were frustrated at full time.

The frustration and disappointment was clear at full time, after the disappointing result put an end to any promotion hopes. The 4-1 loss in Paderborn ended a disappointing Rückrunde, which HSV began in first position but their performances had not been anywhere near good enough to build on an impressive first half of the season. The travelling fans stayed until after the final whistle to acknowledge the players, but even this gesture was not enough to hide the frustration of everyone involved with the club. Here is the post-match reaction to the game.

Ralf Becker: At the end the result was a clear one. When we analyse that the last two months have been a catastrophe, it is clear that the players tried everything in the first half. We conceded 30 seconds into the second half. At the end of the day, we didn’t lose the chance of promotion today, but rather in the past two months. Now it is clear that we will be in the second division next season. We need to analyse everything and see what we were lacking this season – throughout the whole season and also the end. We need to be brutal in tacking, addressing and implementing these things, so that we do it differently throughout the whole season next time and achieve our goals. To the fans: I’m so sorry to everyone. Our fans are ready for the Bundesliga, unfortunately we were not this year. Now we have to see out the season with complete decency – that is what every fan deserves. We will do everything we can to see it out in a respectable way.

The HSV fans acknowledged their team at full time despite the disappointment.

Rick van Drongelen: It is very, very disappointing. In the past few games we lost the stability that we had beforehand and didn’t take our chances. Today we could have scored at least one goal in the first half and tried everything. After our goal, you could see that we had belief. We tried everything we could but unfortunately the goal came at the wrong end. I’m very sorry to our fans; we didn’t want it to be the way it is. Many of our squad aren’t just players, but also HSV supporters. We are hurting just as much as the fans in the stand.

Aaron Hunt: Overall, we have had a terrible Rückrunde. We couldn’t free ourselves from the downwards spiral even though we had the chances. Even today against a direct competitor it was way too little. We just didn’t deserve it. We have failed and didn’t defend well. Of course it is a young side, but everyone here wanted promotion. It is important that you stand firm in pressure situations and none of us did that today.

Tom Mickel: It feels so hollow, it is a huge frustration. We invested a lot into this season, both physically and mentally. We had a clear objective. Therefore, it is extremely tough that we have missed out. The goals that we conceded are hard to take - they were either deflected or we’d given possession away too easily. In the end, we didn’t just lose the chance of promotion today – we simply didn’t look like a promotion contender should over the past eight games. Everyone – myself included - has to ask themselves whether they really gave everything in the Rückrunde to achieve our goal. Too often, we lacked the right mentality and it isn’t good enough. When you play for HSV, you have to show heart and passion, and wear the badge with pride. Of course the last game with be difficult, but you have to show mentality. If not, you shouldn’t be a professional footballer.

Hannes Wolf: Congratulations to SC Paderborn on a deserved victory. Today’s game sums up the past few weeks and also our Rückrunde. We prepared a lot and wanted to fight against the negative developments. We had the chance to equalise when it was 1-0, but conceded the second right after half time. I am so sorry to the fantastic fans and everyone who works at the club. In the end, we lost the defensive stability that we had shown over long periods in the past, and missed out on our long term target. We have some tough days and weeks ahead of us.

Steffen Baumgart: After an even start to the game, the opening goal obviously worked in our favour. It was a similar case with the second goal early in the second half. Before that, HSV had good chances to equalise. At the end of the day, it was a justified score line, because we played the counter attacking style that we intended to. We’ve now secured at least third place – everything else will be decided next week.