FOOTBALL::Hamburg goalkeeper Rene Adler has apologised to fans after their 5-1 thrashing at home to Hoffenheim on Saturday.

The Hamburg goalkeeper admits his side's showing was "an absolute disaster" in their humbling defeat at the HSV-Arena

Roberto Firmino struck twice as the visitors ran riot in the second half at HSV-Arena just a week after Thorsten Fink's side shipped three goals at Schalke, and Adler admits the team's performance was "an absolute disaster."

"To our fans, I'm sorry if they have to pay money for this s***," the 28-year-old told Bild.

"It was an absolute disaster, a disastrous performance from anyone who was involved.

"I understand the displeasure of the fans. We need to score in the next game at [Hertha] Berlin."

Fink was similarly scathing in his assessment of his side's defending, and called on the players to earn back the supporters' respect.

"We got out in the first few minutes just fine and made it 1-1 at a psychologically-opportune time," he said.

"But it annoys me that we have fallen apart again. Our defence was very, very, very bad. That was a textbook case of how not to do it.

"We don't need to gloss over anything, but still look forward, and get back the support of the fans. The objectives of the season have not changed."