Miro Muheim on his rocket of a left foot, Hamburg and more

Miro Muheim has turned two late chances into match-winning moments for Hamburg, scoring against Hoffenheim and VfB Stuttgart with a left foot that’s become hard to ignore. The Switzerland international spoke to the Bundesliga about those goals, recovering from injury and life at HSV under Merlin Polzin.

Muheim’s recent run has been striking: one shot against Hoffenheim clocked 105 km/h; his winner against Stuttgart reached 117 km/h. The figures make for a good headline, but the story is simpler. In both moments, he saw an opening, trusted his shot and delivered when Hamburg needed him.

“Those were incredibly beautiful moments,” Muheim said. After a difficult spell that included injury, he was glad to help his team. Scoring the decisive goal in front of Hamburg’s North Stand, he added, made the Stuttgart moment especially memorable.

Against Hoffenheim, the ball fell to him from a corner. There wasn’t time to bring it under control, so he hit it first time and found the corner. Against Stuttgart, he was joining a counterattack late in a demanding game. He says he’d already spent much of his energy, but gathered enough for one more effort.

“I know I have a good shot, and when I get the chance, I take it,” Muheim said. He couldn’t have planned the finish precisely, but knew from the strike that he’d caught the ball cleanly. That confidence is part of the appeal: the goals were spectacular, yet Muheim describes them as instinctive decisions made in the moment.

Watch: Muheim’s winning goal against Stuttgart

Watch: Muheim reacts to Stuttgart goal

Muheim’s two late goals have made him an unlikely matchwinner for HSV. Whether this becomes a regular feature of his game is hard to say. For now, the more telling point is that after injury and a difficult phase, he was ready to take responsibility when the chance came.

The comeback matters most as evidence of what HSV has rebuilt

Miro Muheim still feels the charge of scoring the late goal that completed Hamburg’s 3-2 comeback at Hoffenheim. But he’s already looking ahead. The reaction at the final whistle, especially from the North Stand, stayed with him: HSV’s supporters keep turning up through defeats and poor performances, he said, and the energy inside the Volksparkstadion reaches the pitch. Late goals at home, he added, aren’t new for this team. That support helps explain why the moment carried weight beyond one result. Muheim said it gave him confidence and energy, while stressing that he can’t be expected to deliver a decisive contribution every week. His aim is to keep working and help the team whenever he can. Watch:Muheim completes late HSV comeback at Hoffenheim

Patience through a difficult start

Muheim credits coach Merlin Polzin and the club’s calm response for helping HSV recover after three defeats and 12 goals conceded. The group focused on specific improvements in training, he said, while a squad with many late arrivals and players who missed preseason took time to build connections on and off the pitch. Polzin’s contract extension may have helped the coach feel trusted, Muheim suggested, but he couldn’t say whether it drove the turnaround. The daily work, he said, did not change much. That distinction rings true: stability can give a coach room to work, though Muheim’s account points to preparation and growing familiarity as the more direct explanations for HSV’s improvement.

Merlin Polzin has been in charge of Hamburg since late December 2024. - Oliver Hardt

Muheim is also making his case through performances after returning injured from the World Cup and working his way back to fitness. With his contract due to expire in summer 2027, he said he tries to show every day that he is valuable to HSV; what happens next remains open. He describes himself as a left-footed player who wants the ball, helps start attacks and looks for chances to cross or shoot.

Replacing Remberg will take a collective effort

The serious ACL injury suffered by Nikolai Remberg against Hoffenheim leaves a significant gap. Muheim said Remberg was coping well given the circumstances and backed his mentality, but was blunt that no one can replace “Rambo” like for like. He pointed to Bilal Nadir’s recent display and other teammates waiting for opportunities as evidence HSV has options to respond together. Muheim and Daniel Heuer Fernandes are among the experienced players who have been with HSV through promotion. Muheim sees part of their job as keeping outside pressure at bay and helping younger teammates stay composed. Years in Bundesliga 2, he said, made the club and its supporters more resilient and brought them closer together.

Muheim has made over 160 appearances for Hamburg since his summer 2022 switch from St. Gallen. - IMAGO/BEAUTIFUL SPORTS/Tonhäuser

Hamburg is home; Paderborn is next

After more than five years in Hamburg, Muheim says the city feels familiar to him as someone from Zurich: both have plenty of water, though Hamburg’s harbour gives it a character of its own. He enjoys the city centre, the Alster in good weather, its restaurants and cultural offerings. HSV, in his telling, has learned to stay steady through hard years. That composure will be tested again against Paderborn. Four consecutive wins would match a run last achieved under Bruno Labbadia 17 years ago, but Muheim declined to make the streak the focus. Paderborn are difficult opponents, especially away, he said; HSV must prepare carefully and bring full intensity. That’s a sensible message after a dramatic win. The comeback can energize the squad, but Muheim’s account suggests HSV’s stronger foundation is the slower work behind it: a settled group, a calm response to pressure and supporters who keep pushing until the final whistle.