HSV Hamburg want to return to the top

Right now a special brightness surrounds the HSV Hamburg. The Swedish newcomer Andreas Nilsson returned with the silver medal from the Olympic Games and the Croatians Domagoj Duvnjak, Igor Vori and Blazenko Lackovic won the bronze medal in London. A return to the podium in the German league is also the aim for the Hanseatic club, which only managed fourth place last season.

"We want to play better than we did last season and show what we can do on court," said goalkeeper Dan Beutler.

The squad has experienced an historic turning point. The French brothers Bertrand and Guillaume Gille, who played in Hamburg since the beginning, returned to France. Pascal Hens is now captain of the German team. The former international has one wish for the next season: "Hopefully, we won’t suffer from too many injuries." However, the HSV already has two two injury worries: The Swedish left-handed Oscar Carlen and goalkeeper Johannes Bitter work hard for their comebacks after their knee injuries.

There are no big stars amongst the newcomers at HSV. Andreas Nilsson has indeed already won Olympic silver, but with his 21 years he can still be classified as a “young talent".

The two 18-year-old Max Henri Herrmann and Stefan Terzic will slowly be integrated into the professional team.

In the Bundesliga, goalkeeper Enid Tahirovic is best known. The 40-year-old veteran has been hired to support the goalkeepers. "Now I would like to participate in the Champions League again," declared the new goalkeeper.

To be a part of the Group Phase of the VELUX EHF Champions League HSV Hamburg need to win the Wild Card Tournament. In the semi-final they meet Wisla Plock.

"We don’t think about the final, Plock is hard enough," warns Martin Schwalb. "The top Polish clubs have improved even further." Another problem: In the past, the Wild Card Tournament for the VELUX EHF Champions League has always been won by the organiser. 

But Martin Schwalb isn’t afraid: "It’s simple; HSV belongs in the Champions League."