Bayer Leverkusen vs Hamburger preview - Knabel set for baptism of fire

Posted Friday, April 03, 2015 by PA

New Hamburg coach Peter Knabel faces a baptism of fire this Saturday as he leads the side currently third from the foot of the table to Bayer Leverkusen, who are fourth.

Formerly Hamburg's director of football, Knabel was appointed as head coach until the end of the season after Josef Zinnbauer was relieved of his duties.

Following the dismissal of Mirko Slomka, it is already the second managerial change of the season for a Hamburg side fighting for survival for the second year running, and one they hope they have got right this time.

"Hamburg belong in the Bundesliga," said the club's director of sport Dietmar Beiersdorfer. "That is what we must and what we will prove."

Knabel is set to revolutionise their style of play this Saturday, not ruling out the option of fielding two forwards having realised that scoring goals has been their main problem this term.

No other side have scored fewer than Hamburg's 16 in 26 games this term.

"The team have not been rewarding themselves enough for a relatively long time now," Knabel said.

"We need more presence in the penalty area and more incision in the final 30 yards.

"We've not done that very well so far."

Knabel says almost all of their practice drills in training have focused on attacking and getting the strikers into shooting positions.

"We need more self-confidence in the box where it matters - to be in the right place at the right time," he said.

"The best thing for a forward's self-confidence is scoring goals in training and then in games."

Leverkusen boast one of the meanest defences in the division, though, and that is why Knabel would probably not have chosen them as his first opponents were it up to him.

They have to take it as it comes, though, with bottom-placed Stuttgart only two points below them with an important eight weeks ahead.

Leverkusen also know the importance of winning at least six of their remaining eight matches, since that would guarantee them a place in the Champions League next season.

Fewer may suffice, but picking up three points in front of their own fans on Saturday is paramount.

"We want to finish third," said defender Stefan Reinartz to Bundesliga.de. "For that, we need to get as many points as possible before the showdown with Gladbach."