On Wednesday, HSV striker Yussuf Poulsen had to leave the Danish national team due to injury, and it is now clear that he will be out for a longer period of time. The 31-year-old suffered a muscle tear. This forces sporting director Claus Costa to take action in the winter.
On Friday, Claus Costa extended his contract with Hamburger SV, and in January, the sporting director faces his next big task: he must search for a new center forward. Yussuf Poulsen’s recent injury shows that it would be negligent to rely on the injury-prone Dane. Poulsen was supposed to be the anchor in the center of the attack, bringing experience, power in the run-up and force to the team. But his starting debut last weekend was followed by two muscle injuries at the beginning and now the next setback.
Glatzel ponders his future
After the Hamburg captain’s departure, the Danish Football Association had reported only a “minor injury,” but detailed examinations in Hamburg revealed a torn muscle fiber. This means another weeks-long absence, after two minor injuries had already put him out of action at the start of the season.
The latest injury shows how fragile Poulsen’s body is. And how shaky the plans for him are. Costa had repeatedly emphasized that the value of the model professional went beyond his influence on the pitch because he was recognized as a leader in the dressing room. But it is also clear that he can only fulfill his intended role as leader in the long term if he plays regularly. And the bosses have to admit that, as right as they were with most of their squad decisions after promotion, the plan with Poulsen has not worked out so far.
Most recently, the coaching team and medical staff had been pushing for a cautious build-up, specifically managing the striker, who has been injured repeatedly over the past two years, because Merlin Polzin naturally needs not only the guy but also the goal scorer Poulsen in the fight to stay in the league. The coach’s motto: “It’s not about getting Yussi fit as quickly as possible, but about getting the most out of him for as long as possible and making the best use of his abilities.”
However, just a few days after his debut in the starting lineup, his body is on strike again – for the third time since his arrival in Hamburg in July. Costa also needs to take action because Robert Glatzel’s future is uncertain. The long-time second division striker is now only third in the striker hierarchy behind Ransford Königsdörffer and Poulsen, and wants to reassess the situation for himself in the winter. In the summer, the crowd favorite had ruled out a departure, but now he wants to weigh up his options carefully. Coupled with Poulsen’s recurring setbacks, this is a situation that is forcing Costa to take action.