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Daniel Thioune tried to focus on the present and an intensive working week, but the bitter 2: 3 bankruptcy of the previous week at the bottom of the table, Würzburger Kickers, continued to have an effect for a few days.
He wanted to see this "not classified separately," said the Hamburger SV coach.
After all, the focus should be on the city derby against arch rivals FC St. Pauli on Monday evening.
“Not a normal game,” said Thioune, “a backlash” was needed.
And that can only arise from self-confidence: "We didn't lose eleven games before and are first."
The big tremors should be avoided, even if that would be understandable after just one win from the last five games.
In the second half of the season, Thiounes team is only ninth and FC St. Pauli is first.
Nevertheless, Thioune and also sports director Michael Mutzel are of the opinion that before the desolate Würzburg kick only the results would not have been correct, the appearance of the team was.
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But the fact that a 3-1 lead at Erzgebirge Aue three weeks ago was not enough to win and in the subsequent 0-0 in the top game against Greuther Fürth many chances did not lead to a goal, cast doubts about the true strength and above all constancy of the Hanseatic League.
"After a lost game, I don't see the reason why we should be restless," said Mutzel defiantly.
Now it remains to be seen whether key players like top scorer Simon Terodde (19 goals this season) or the midfield, which was so convincing in the last winning streak, are able to master this mini-crisis.
“The city derby comes at the right time,” Terodde blows to attack.
About the hustle and bustle at the top of the table, he says: “I have seen situations like this many times and I assume that the table will look a little different in six to seven weeks.
I am glad that we already have 42 points in our account and are among the top. "
But then there is the more recent past of the red pants.
In the past two seasons, HSV greeted them from the very top for a long time, just before the end of the season and missed promotion both times as fourth in the table.
Before this matchday, four teams were now at the top of the table with 42 points each.
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The look in the rearview mirror before the 23rd matchday acts like a beacon.
In the preseason, HSV was always on a direct promotion place from the third to the 22nd matchday, then lost to FC St. Pauli at home with 0: 2 and ultimately messed up the promotion.
The 2018/19 season was just as dramatic: from the 12th to the 22nd matchday, HSV was the sovereign leader of the table, with some six points ahead of a non-promotion place.
On matchday 30 they were still second, in the end only fourth.
In the current situation there is at least something positive to report from the squad.
Stephan Ambrosius, who was suspended against Würzburg, can play again in central defense.
Gideon Jung was a total failure to replace him.
But he will probably still play in the derby, as regular defender Toni Leistner is still injured and Moritz Heyer, who helped out in the back, will move back into defensive midfield for Amadou Onana - he saw yellow-red in Würzburg.
The recovering Joshua Vagnoman (after an ankle injury with a short deployment) or Rick van Drongelen (fit again after a cruciate ligament tear) are not yet fully alternatives.
The defense was recently a construction site at HSV, the quality was undoubtedly on the offensive.
Against Würzburg they scored two goals after being 3-0 down.
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"I think it will be a great game in which both teams want to win," emphasized Mutzel before the derby against the currently brown and white offensive spectacle.
And for Coach Thioune "it's only about three points and maybe a little more prestige".
A bit of a derby atmosphere, which simply includes announcements of strength and self-confidence, has to be there even if the game itself at Millerntor will take place bleakly against an empty backdrop.
Top scorer Terodde also believes there is a lot of fire in the game and says: "A derby always takes on a momentum of its own, which is part of such an explosive game."
This text is from WELT AM SONNTAG. We will be happy to deliver them to your home on a regular basis.
Source: Welt am Sonntag