Pherai motoring in midfield

His numbers after 90 minutes speak for themselves – 12.6km covered, six shots on goal, three chances created and seven crosses – Immanuel Pherai led his team in each of those statistics during HSV’s 1-0 win against Elversberg, and in doing so set the tone for the side’s performance. After only five training sessions with their new coach, the team were able to put some of his ideas into practice on the pitch. “We played with a lot of energy and intensity, especially in the pressing game. We exerted a lot of pressure and did plenty of running,” explained Ludovit Reis, who covered 8.6km in 63 minutes, forming a high-energy midfield with compatriot Pherai and Jonas Meffert (11.8km). The team’s collective 122km running distance is among the highest figures in the league this season.

HSV adopted their new game plan on and off the ball without sacrificing any of their quality as a team. The Rothosen drove forward with intensity, put the opposition under pressure as soon as they lost the ball and looked to hit them on the counter when they won it back by exploiting space in behind. Using this approach, HSV managed to score in the 53rd minute of their matchday 23 clash, and Ransford Königsdörffer’s goal would end up being the winner. The Ghana attacker had a number of shots on Sunday, just like Pherai. The midfielder had an action-packed game at both ends of the pitch and was involved in every imaginable scenario. The 22-year-old ran his socks off, put in huge challenges, set up his teammates and had a go himself from time to time. “For me, it was important that the lads play with the utmost intensity right up to the very end of the game and keep putting the opposition under pressure. That’s how we forced them into making mistakes, which meant that we could carve out chances,” explained head coach Steffen Baumgart in praise of his side after the match. For Immanuel Pherai, who has been directly involved in three goals since returning from the international break, scoring a goal of his own would’ve made the victory even sweeter.