Confident Hamburg aiming high
Wednesday, August 24, 2005
Article summary
Hamburger SV defender Bastian Reinhardt insists his side have "nothing to fear" this season after beating Valencia CF to win the UEFA Intertoto Cup.
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Confidence gained
Hamburg drew 0-0 with Valencia CF on Tuesday to win their Intertoto Cup final 1-0 on aggregate, and Reinhardt says the confidence gained from winning the competition will have a big impact in the coming months. "Our team is just unbelievable. Not to concede a goal at a stadium like the Mestalla is very, very good going," the 29-year-old said. "If we are able to defeat a side like Valencia, we do not have to fear any of Germany's top clubs."
Strong defence
Hamburg have made a flying start in the Bundesliga, winning their opening two matches. Much of their success has been down to the strength of a defence which has conceded just one goal in 888 minutes this term. "I am so proud of my players," coach Thomas Doll said. "We deserved this victory. Everybody performed to their maximum."
Bundesliga goal
Doll now has the UEFA Cup to look forward to, and the former European champions will be aiming to improve on their last showing in the competition in 2003/04 when they were knocked out in the first round by Ukrainian outfit FC Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk. Good things are also expected of Hamburg at home. "Now we want to re-establish ourselves at the top in Germany," general manager Dietmar Beiersdorfer said.
