- Approximately 15,000 HSV supporters are heading to the northern derby: Hannover is under the spotlight
Investors are pushing for advancement. The sporting director grumbles following elimination in the DFB-Pokal ("I won't watch this for long"). The coach is once again under intense scrutiny. And currently, there's no managing director capable of stabilizing this intricate setup. The dismissal of such an individual was recently upheld by the Federal Court of Justice.
This isn't a glimpse into the tumultuous modern history of Hamburger SV, but a description of Hannover 96's current situation. When the two teams confront each other in the Heinz von Heiden Arena on Friday evening (6:30 PM/Sky) before an estimated 49,000 spectators, the weight will fall more heavily on Hannover than Hamburg for a change. This is unusual in the 2. Bundesliga.
Baumgart is puzzled by the uproar
Hamburg SV coach Steffen Baumgart fails to grasp the upheaval in Hannover. "I can name at least ten to twelve second-division teams that would have struggled just as much, if not more, in the cup match in Bielefeld," he commented on Thursday. "So we shouldn't overemphasize it."
Baumgart views Hannover as "a very good team". The persistent unrest that frequently surfaces there recalls HSV and his former club 1. FC Köln for him. "I'm currently at a location and was previously at a location where things are similar," he stated. "And I don't think that merely because something is introduced from the outside, it's always exactly like that." Hannover 96 coach Stefan Leitl has been with Hannover for three years now. "And I'm quite confident that he's been under pressure in all three years. I know how challenging it is to always maintain a clear head."
Hamburger SV, on the other hand, is faced with more routine concerns preceding this North German derby: Who will remain when the transfer window for professional footballers closes the following Friday (30 August)? And which crucial player will be out for how long?
Hamburg supporters were taken aback by recent reports that midfielder Jonas Meffert has an offer from English club Hull City, and that wingers Bakery Jatta and Jean-Luc Dompé could be out for an extended period. The HSV could replace each individual, but losing all three simultaneously would be a challenge.
However, it appears that this is not going to happen. While the precise diagnosis for Dompé is still pending, Baumgart disclosed on Wednesday that Jatta has torn a ligament in his left ankle and will be sidelined for four to six weeks. Although this is still a substantial amount of time, it's not as long as initially feared.
HSV seeks to retain Meffert
Baumgart also wants Meffert to stay in Hamburg beyond 30 August. He wishes to keep Walter's preferred player in Hamburg. "I've made it clear to him, and I've also shared this perspective with the responsible parties," Baumgart stressed, and explained why: "Jonas is a player you miss quickly if he's not present. If you worked with him, you know what you have. And if you hear those words, you know what I think about him leaving: nothing. I also don't feel that Jonas desires to leave now."
On Friday evening, Meffert will definitely be present. And around 15,000 Hamburg supporters are expected in Hannover once again. They recall the preceding two trips fondly: in 2023, Jatta scored the game-winning goal in a 1-0 victory while a man down, and in 2022, Ransford Königsdörffer scored the game-winning goal in the 90th minute.
The following is added to the discussion: Steffen Baumgart acknowledges that Hannover 96 is also a strong team, despite their internal issues.
In response to Hannover's struggles, Baumgart highlights several second-division teams that have faced similar challenges in cup matches.
