Head coach Niko Kovac on...
... the after-effects of the Bayern game: "We showed a lot of passion and fighting spirit. Of course, it's understandable afterwards that there are a few tired bodies, but that's nothing out of the ordinary following a Bundesliga game. We have enough time until the next match and we'll be at the right level physically and mentally. We're going into the HSV game full of confidence."
... the time he spent at Hamburg as a player (1999-2001): "It was a really, really good time. I knew Hamburg was a big club, but hadn't quite understood just how big a club until I was there. My daughter was born when I was there. She's a Hamburg girl, so to speak! I'm sure I'll see lots of old faces, Heribert Bruchhagen [currently Hamburg chairman] among them."
... preparations: "The second day after a game is always the toughest. Things will be a little bit more hands-off in training on Monday and we won't do much. All of the hard work done throughout the season needs to pay off in these busy weeks."
... rotation: "My team are at a very good level physically, but I expect we'll be rotating. I can't say how many players because I need to speak to them first. We need a team that's ready to run and to fight. The players who are fresh will play."
... Sébastien Haller: "We need him going forward and at the back. Perhaps he hasn't quite reached his previous performance levels after his tooth operation, but he works hard, runs a lot and is always important for the team. We've lacked a little bit of penetration up front recently, but that's not just down to him."
... Timothy Chandler: "Timmy will definitely be back playing before the winter break, but Marius Wolf has done well in that position. With those two players, we have good options."
... Makoto Hasebe: "The illness is still affecting him slightly. He won’t be available tomorrow."
