Reis is back on the way to becoming leader
Ludovit Reis's period of suffering since his serious muscle injury was three months. In fact, it lasted a year and a half. Since Hamburg's midfield engine injured his shoulder in the summer of 2023, he has been searching for rhythm. Now he seems to have found it again.
Back in the starting eleven for the first time against Kaiserslautern: Ludovit Reis. IMAGO/Claus Bergmann
Because Sebastian Schonlau was only on the bench, his return to the starting eleven was a special occasion in two ways: Reis , the official vice-captain, was able to lead HSV onto the field last Friday evening against Kaiserslautern wearing the captain's armband. And he once again directed the midfield in his own way. The 24-year-old didn't get everything right at the beginning, but as the game went on and by the second half at the latest, he was back in his element, winning tackles and carrying the ball through the midfield. In the build-up to Davie Selke's second goal, he showed off all his quality, energetically shaking off several Lautern players and then passing the ball through to the centre forward - an expression of the fact that he is back on the way to the strength that brought him to the attention of several Bundesliga clubs almost two years ago.
"I feel light again and am at 100 percent"After the failed promotion in 2023, the Dutchman committed to HSV despite the exit clause for the top division, then the injury misery and the constant search for rhythm began. And suddenly also the search for the central position. Under Steffen Baumgart, Reis was repeatedly positioned on the right wing, from there he was supposed to move into the center, but felt alienated both from the then coach and the way he played his role. The result: a change of advisor last summer, combined with the goal of at least personally climbing up a league with HSV after missing out on promotion again. Instead of a change in late summer, however, the muscle injury followed in the autumn. And the renewed fight for a comeback. Until Friday.
Merlin Polzin has always had a lot of faith in Reis, and against Kaiserslautern he was able to repay Reis for the first time after four substitute appearances as a part of the starting eleven. "I feel light again and I'm at 100 percent," he says. "The feeling on the pitch was good again, I had control over my whole body." This increases the likelihood of him remaining in the starting lineup. "When Ludo is fit," Polzin recently explained, "he is a special player for us in this league." And the coach also recently noticed a return of self-confidence after a long period of suffering. "He feels free and light and is dynamic." This was exactly what was visible in his comeback to the starting eleven against Kaiserslautern.
