Steffen Baumgart and Hamburger SV have a problem. Once again, the longed-for promotion to the Bundesliga in the spring is in acute danger. After the completely deserved 0:2 (0:1) in the top second division game at Fortuna Düsseldorf, which the chanceless HSV could easily have lost 0:4 or 0:5, the former Bundesliga permanent member is in danger of becoming second division inventory.
Even under the new coach Baumgart, HSV is on the verge of missing out on returning to the first division for the sixth time since relegation in 2018, despite increasing investments every year. There were a whopping five defeats from the last seven games for Hamburg. Although Fortuna has also weakened badly recently and only won its second game this year, it has moved within one point of the Hanseatic League.
The negative run already cost Baumgart’s predecessor, Tim Walter, his job. But even under the supposed beacon of hope, Baumgart, things are not going well. There have already been two defeats in three games under the former Cologne coach, including the 2-1 defeat last week against bottom-placed VfL Osnabrück. “We are a long way from what I imagine,” complained Baumgart.
Pressing instead of possession football
No wonder, an outsider might object. Because after two and a half years under Walter, who preached strict possession football, the HSV professionals are now supposed to show the complete opposite. Consistent pressing is the well-known Baumgart approach that is consistently celebrated at 1. FC Köln. Whether it will work at HSV is doubtful given the long history of Walter’s influence.
In Düsseldorf, Hamburg played what they were taught under Walter – also because the former HSV and current Fortuna coach Daniel Thioune deliberately left the ball to the opponent. “Although in rooms that were irrelevant to us,” Thioune noted. And his colleague Baumgart shows little willingness to compromise in his approach.
“Just implement what was clearly discussed before,” Baumgart demanded of his team and announced a clearer approach to communication: “I have to be more clear.”
Baumgart also remains stubborn with Benes
It is questionable whether that is enough. HSV and Baumgart still have nine games left. “We now have to get stability back quickly,” said returnee Laszlo Benes, who was not a factor in an unusual outside position after serving a red card suspension. “Everyone knows that this is not my favorite position,” noted the Slovakian, but Baumgart remained stubborn on this question: “I don’t know why it shouldn’t work.”
Goalkeeper Matheo Raab also reacted defiantly. “I’m not worried at all,” said the keeper with regard to the promotion race. “If we leave our hearts on the pitch in the last few games, I have no worries at all.” This did not work in Düsseldorf. Hamburg didn’t get a single shot on Fortuna’s goal in the entire game. “There is a lot that we have to change,” said Baumgart. That sounded much more realistic.
