Tim Walter's hand signal stands for confidence – and anticipation. Or is it arrogant to display the number of remaining games with raised fingers after each game? What is meant: 17, 16, 15, 14 times second Bundesliga with Hamburger SV.

Since the re-start at the end of January, the HSV coach has been counting down the countdown. Walter has arrived at 13. So many games are still pending for the Hamburg until the longed-for return to the Bundesliga, and the upcoming one, on Saturday evening (20.30 clock in the F.A.Z. live ticker for the 2nd Bundesliga, on Sky and Sport1), could provide more than just a hint of how stable HSV really is after four rarely convincing, but unbeaten appearances in 2023 – at the leader SV Darmstadt 98, the Hamburg as second in the table once do not play as favorites.

Walter's wagon castle is supposed to stop at the "Lilies". The ranks are closed, the team follows the coach and his risky ball possession football with Jonas Meffert as the only hedge. The internal atmosphere seems better than ever – and the fans ensure a Volksparkstadion that is filled with more than 50,000 people, regardless of the opponent. The support of the best team in the second division abroad is also great away from home.

HSV is stronger than ever

There is once again unrest around Walter's kicking group. The dispute over shareholders, supervisory boards and Marcell Jansen's presidency of HSV e.V.; Mario Vuskovic's sensational doping trial, consultant trouble with Bakery Jatta and Jean-Luc Dompé's hit-and-run accident – these are topics that reach the dressing room because they affect regular players. Or rather: would have to achieve. So far, the HSV looks more consolidated than ever in its four and a half years in the lower house.

This is Walter's greatest achievement. Nobody breaks away, nobody talks about anything, who is needed is there, like central defender Jonas David, who replaces Vuskovic passably. The fact that CEO Jonas Boldt and CFO Eric Huwer reported black figures for the past financial year for the first time in twelve years, further reduced debt and the pandemic was better digested economically than feared, allows those responsible to paint a picture of HSV as a club on the road to recovery.

This includes the contract extension with Tim Walter up to and including 30 June 2024. When he arrived in the summer of 2021, there were hardly any hopes associated with him – someone had to coach HSV. Then Walter's team reached the relegation with a strong final spurt. The core with top scorer Robert Glatzel, pacemaker Bakery Jatta, driver Ludovit Reis and captain Sebastian Schonlau remained, although the promotion was missed.

In a largely sovereign season with 14 wins from 21 games, the highlights are rare, the narrow successes often earned, as recently against Bielefeld. Often the defense seems shaky, but the courage to bring through the style of play against deep-standing teams is impressive – so HSV was not deterred by a 0:3 in Heidenheim and reached the equalizer late. There are always enough chances – on both sides, so that the fans of the "Raute" wonder whether performances like on Sunday (moderately played, still won) stand for the fact that the HSV now goes up in any case. Or for the fact that it is ultimately not enough. Tim Walter brushes aside such skepticism.

In August, his team lost 1:2 against Darmstadt, last season in February 2022 a 5:0 of the Hamburg at the Hessen with four bald goals in the books: That was the exception, because the duels of the traditional clubs are contested. After the final whistle on Saturday evening, there will still be twelve games of HSV in the second league: at least if you follow Tim Walter's counting method.