Hamburger SV have appointed their fourth manager of the season in the hope that they can survive in the Bundesliga come the end of the season. An old face will be back on the bench in Bruno Labbadia for the upcoming derby against Werder Bremen on Sunday (15:30 CEST).
“We don’t have any time to waste,” said Labbadia, who was appointed on Wednesday in Hamburg: “We’ll go into the derby with Werder fully prepared and we’ll also be focused on our upcoming games. Every point counts for us now.” HSV are currently bottom of the table and four points from safety with only 25 points and 16 goals to their name – only the Tasmania Berlin side from the 1965/1966 season have scored fewer goals at this stage of the season (11) than Hamburg.
Labbadia: “I’m expecting full commitment and passion”
Labbadia, who managed Hamburg from 1st July 2009 until 26th April 2010 and played for them from 1987 to 1989, has to do something about that to try and prevent HSV, who have been in the Bundesliga every season since its inception, from being relegated for the first time in the club’s history.
The former Germany international is the fourth manager this season after Mirko Slomka, Joe Zinnbauer and Peter Knäbel, who has returned to his position as sporting director. “We have decided to take this step because we believe the manager is the most important thing. We have a strong manager in Bruno Labbadia, who also has experience of relegation battles,” said HSV chairman Dietmar Beiersdorfer, who ruled out a change of manager after the 2-0 defeat to Wolfsburg.
The main task for the new manager is to turn the side around following eight games without a win, including four defeats. Recently at the back, they have been leaving huge gaps and have been lacking creativity at times in their game. “I expect full commitment and passion from everyone over the next few weeks. We have to work hard in order to pick up a successful result quickly,” said Labbadia.
But Bremen are also looking to do the same thing. Viktor Skripnik’s side have faltered in their quest for Europa League football over the last four games (two draws, two defeats). Bremen are on the brink of picking up their 500th win in the club’s history, which will be a particular incentive for Skripnik and Co. “The defeat in Stuttgart didn’t annoy just me but Viktor Skripnik too. We have to concentrate on not making the same mistakes again,” said sporting director Thomas Eichin.
The Green-Whites will be without Fin Bartels, who picked up an injury to his right ankle in the 3-2 defeat to VfB Stuttgart. The 28-year-old midfielder will be out for up to four weeks.
Can Schalke end their goal drought in Wolfsburg?
In the second game on Sunday between VfL Wolfsburg and Schalke 04 (17:30 CEST), two teams with differing form will go up against each other. The Wolves are currently second on 60 points behind leaders Bayern München. However, Schalke’s form has been on the decline and Roberto Di Matteo’s side are without a win in four. The Royal Blues have also failed to find the back of the net in the last 270 minutes of football and could even miss out on Europa League football following the 0-0 draw with relegation threatened Freiburg.
Hamburger SV have appointed their fourth manager of the season in the hope that they can survive in the Bundesliga come the end of the season. An old face will be back on the bench in Bruno Labbadia for the upcoming derby against Werder Bremen on Sunday (15:30 CEST).
“We don’t have any time to waste,” said Labbadia, who was appointed on Wednesday in Hamburg: “We’ll go into the derby with Werder fully prepared and we’ll also be focused on our upcoming games. Every point counts for us now.” HSV are currently bottom of the table and four points from safety with only 25 points and 16 goals to their name – only the Tasmania Berlin side from the 1965/1966 season have scored fewer goals at this stage of the season (11) than Hamburg.
Labbadia: “I’m expecting full commitment and passion”
Labbadia, who managed Hamburg from 1st July 2009 until 26th April 2010 and played for them from 1987 to 1989, has to do something about that to try and prevent HSV, who have been in the Bundesliga every season since its inception, from being relegated for the first time in the club’s history.
The former Germany international is the fourth manager this season after Mirko Slomka, Joe Zinnbauer and Peter Knäbel, who has returned to his position as sporting director. “We have decided to take this step because we believe the manager is the most important thing. We have a strong manager in Bruno Labbadia, who also has experience of relegation battles,” said HSV chairman Dietmar Beiersdorfer, who ruled out a change of manager after the 2-0 defeat to Wolfsburg.
The main task for the new manager is to turn the side around following eight games without a win, including four defeats. Recently at the back, they have been leaving huge gaps and have been lacking creativity at times in their game. “I expect full commitment and passion from everyone over the next few weeks. We have to work hard in order to pick up a successful result quickly,” said Labbadia.
But Bremen are also looking to do the same thing. Viktor Skripnik’s side have faltered in their quest for Europa League football over the last four games (two draws, two defeats). Bremen are on the brink of picking up their 500th win in the club’s history, which will be a particular incentive for Skripnik and Co. “The defeat in Stuttgart didn’t annoy just me but Viktor Skripnik too. We have to concentrate on not making the same mistakes again,” said sporting director Thomas Eichin.
The Green-Whites will be without Fin Bartels, who picked up an injury to his right ankle in the 3-2 defeat to VfB Stuttgart. The 28-year-old midfielder will be out for up to four weeks.
Can Schalke end their goal drought in Wolfsburg?
In the second game on Sunday between VfL Wolfsburg and Schalke 04 (17:30 CEST), two teams with differing form will go up against each other. The Wolves are currently second on 60 points behind leaders Bayern München. However, Schalke’s form has been on the decline and Roberto Di Matteo’s side are without a win in four. The Royal Blues have also failed to find the back of the net in the last 270 minutes of football and could even miss out on Europa League football following the 0-0 draw with relegation threatened Freiburg.
Champions League football is no longer on the cards for Schalke as the gap between themselves and Gladbach and Leverkusen is too large, but it would be a disaster for S04, both from a footballing and an economic point of view, should they also miss out on Europa League football.
Draxler provides Schalke with some hope
The return of World Champion Julian Draxler, who has been out since the end of October, gives hope to a change in fortunes after he made his return for the last fifteen minutes against Freiburg. Benedikt Höwedes (ankle), Leon Goretzka (head), Max Meyer and Sead Kolasinac (both illness) have all been back in training after missing out recently. Manager Roberto Di Matteo is hoping to be able to call upon the quartet on Sunday.
Wolfsburg will go into the game with confidence. They are currently without defeat in their last four Bundesliga games (three wins, one draw) but did suffer a setback on Thursday after losing 4-1 to Napoli in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final. “Up until now it’s been an incredible season. We want to remain in second and win every game,” said Daniel Caligiuri. “We want to do as well as we can in every competition. Despite the gap in the Bundesliga, we can’t give up.”
