Season

“It’s nice when things work out”: HSV and their newfound variability

Head coach Steffen Baumgart and his team recorded their fourth win of the season with the 3-0 away victory over league leaders Fortuna Düsseldorf and that with number of changes to the side.

One of the most well-known sporting principles worldwide is to “never change a winning team.” For Steffen Baumgart, he has found that quite the opposite strategy has brought his side the most success. The 3-0 win in Düsseldorf served as the eighth time in eight games that he named a different starting line-up from the previous game. Afterwards, he expressed his delight regarding the fact that the changes in the team once again bore fruit. “It’s obviously nice when things work out.”

Again there was a singular change from the team fielded in the previous match and again the change was due to either an injury or a suspension for an individual player. Fundamentally, however, Baumgart and his coaching staff can be bolstered by the fact that this year’s squad offers width, depth and a host of different options. “We had to adapt to our opponents completely and changed our line-up accordingly,” explained Baumgart after the win at Fortuna.

A strong showing on the right flank from the left-footed Noah Katterbach.

An example of this was the fact that Noah Katterbach started on the right flank presumably to the surprise of most. The decision was made “in particular, for defensive reasons,” as Baumgart described selecting Katterbach after Silvan Hefti withdrew from the squad due to injury. Another change saw Daniel Elfadli replace Dennis Hadzikadunic in the backline, “because for this game we needed his speed in the centre of defence against Fortuna’s front line,” said Baumgart. This versatility is appearing to be very beneficial to the Rothosen right now.

Different opponents require different approaches to deal with them, and Baumgart, his coaching staff and the team are able to utilise their current resources react to these different challenges and opposition strengths or weaknesses in the best possible way. In Düsseldorf, Jean-Luc Dompe, Marco Richter and Ludovit Reis all came into Baumgart’s starting line-up. Dompe repaid the faith with his stunning goal to make it 1-0, while “Marco moved very well between the lines and got off a few shots too” and Reis was able to fully show his strengths to really work what is a strong Fortuna side, who had not been defeated in 21 league games before the clash with the Rothosen.

“The togetherness of the squad is what makes a difference,” said Steffen Baumgart, picking Jean-Luc Dompe and Ludovit Reis among others to start.

“Our squad allows us to adapt our line-up and our gameplan to each opponent,” said Baumgart. The next match could therefore once again take on a completely different look in terms of the starting XI when 1. FC Magdeburg visit the Volksparkstadion with head coach Christian Titz, who is well-known in Hamburg and whose style of play will not come as a surprise. Hence, more changes from Baumgart are very possible on the horizon in order to be best prepared for the contest with this particular opponent.

“The togetherness of the squad is what makes a difference,” emphasised the coach. “That is something we have in abundance, as the team proved in no small part in Düsseldorf.” Nevertheless, the coach does not want to get too carried away after the big win. “It was quite a clear result, but still a close game. We were of course delighted to win against the league leaders, but now we move forwards.” Despite the ongoing international break, the focus is very much on the future and the next opponent, hoping that the so far successful plan of action will come to fruition again.