Hamburg head coach Merlin Polzin has demanded a significantly improved response from his side against RB Leipzig after last weekend’s 5-0 humiliation at the hands of Mainz 05, with the Rothosen also forced into a defensive reshuffle following Sebastiaan Bornauw’s injury.
Bornauw will miss Sunday’s Bundesliga away fixture with muscular problems sustained during the heavy home defeat to Mainz. His absence creates another significant challenge for a back line that endured a disastrous afternoon at the Volksparkstadion last weekend.
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GGFN covered Polzin’s response to the Mainz defeat and his acceptance of responsibility for several personnel decisions, with the HSV coach describing the performance as a “totally shitty afternoon” and conceding that his new-look side had offered nowhere near enough.
Five days later, Polzin has attempted to turn each concession into something constructive.
Polzin formulates “five messages” after Mainz collapse
Hamburg have not simply attempted to forget the Mainz defeat. Polzin instead used the five goals conceded to formulate five specific messages for his players during the subsequent analysis.
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The 34-year-old stressed that the problems went considerably deeper than individual errors within the back three. HSV failed to reach the energy level Polzin repeatedly treats as non-negotiable, while Mainz were able to dictate the nature of the contest with alarming ease.
“Connected with the five goals we conceded, we formulated five messages,” Polzin said at his Friday press conference. “We made it very clear that we want to approach games with a different energy. We had very open and clear conversations with the team. We don’t want excuses. In terms of content, we want to put forward something completely different than last time.”
Bornauw absence likely hands Nandja first Bundesliga start
At least one part of that different face will be literal. Bornauw’s absence means Jordan Torunarigha is expected to move from the left side of the defensive three into the central position, leaving 19-year-old Shafiq Nandja poised to make his first Bundesliga start.
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The development represents the latest step in a progression already evident throughout the summer. GGFN’s 2026/27 Hamburger SV tactical preview highlighted Nandja as one of the club’s major preseason winners. That work now appears set to yield the biggest opportunity of Nandja’s senior career thus far.
The teenager started Hamburg’s 3-0 DFB-Pokal victory over Verl and remained the first defensive replacement during Warmed Omari’s recent absence. With Bornauw unavailable, Polzin offered a telling response when asked whether Nandja was likely to begin in Leipzig.
“That’s logically answered,” the coach remarked.
Torunarigha handed immediate opportunity to respond
Nandja’s promotion also places greater responsibility on Torunarigha. The experienced defender endured a particularly difficult first half against Mainz and was withdrawn at the interval. Polzin subsequently made clear that the substitution was not fitness related. Torunarigha will nevertheless now be asked to assume Bornauw’s central position and organize a defensive unit containing a teenager making his first Bundesliga start.
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The role itself is not unfamiliar.
Torunarigha operated centrally on several occasions last season when Luka Vuskovic was unavailable and therefore provides Polzin with an experienced internal solution. Sunday nevertheless represents an immediate opportunity for redemption after his poor performance against Mainz.
HSV seek response rather than excuses in Leipzig
The broader task remains considerably larger than replacing Bornauw. Hamburg have opened their Bundesliga campaign with successive defeats against Borussia Dortmund and Mainz and have yet to score a league goal.
The manner of last weekend’s loss created particular concern. Against Mainz, Polzin’s side lacked cohesion, aggression and the compactness that became one of their defining traits during last season’s successful survival campaign.
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Torunarigha must respond after being removed at halftime. Nandja must translate his encouraging preseason into his first Bundesliga start. And the entire team must demonstrate that the energy and collective discipline missing last weekend can be restored.
The personnel will change in Leipzig.
Polzin’s greater concern is making sure the performance does too.
GGFN | Peter Weis
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