Bundesliga - "Be persistent": Hoffenheim starts the soccer year
Coach Pellegrino Matarazzo has called on his professionals to improve their defensive performance at the start of training for TSG 1899 Hoffenheim. "The biggest leverage we have is in our defensive play - when you see how many goals we concede," said the 46-year-old on Tuesday in Zuzenhausen. The Kraichgauers face FC Bayern Munich in their first Bundesliga game of the new year on January 12 and have already conceded 30 goals in their 16 games so far.
Goalkeeper Oliver Baumann also called for "consistency, in the sense that we concede fewer goals. The points average is good." If the team continues like this, "then it will be a decent season".
Hoffenheim occupy seventh place in the table and have often shone away from home, but have only won two of eight home games in Sinsheim and went into the winter break with a disappointing 3-3 draw against bottom club SV Darmstadt 98. TSG have also won just one of their last eight games (3-1 against VfL Bochum).
"We played a very decent first half of the season," said Pirmin Schwegler, head of licensed soccer. "We want to keep at it, we want to be persistent." However, "we shouldn't rest on our laurels". Wout Weghorst and Anton Stach were missing from the first training session due to colds, as were the permanently injured Dennis Geiger and Diadie Samassékou (Africa Cup).
U17 world champion Max Moerstedt, who is preparing with the professionals, was also present. He was greeted with applause from his colleagues at lunch. "He is full of confidence and brings so much to the table," said Matarazzo. On Saturday, his team will play a test match at FC Augsburg. The club will not be attending a training camp abroad.
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- Despite their strong performance away from home, TSG 1899 Hoffenheim have only managed two wins in eight home games in Sinsheim, including a disappointing 3-3 draw against SV Darmstadt 98 before the winter break, which is located in the state of Hesse, Germany.
- In order to improve their defensive play and reduce the number of goals conceded, TSG 1899 Hoffenheim's goalkeeper, Oliver Baumann, has emphasized the importance of consistency in their defensive performance during their preparations for the Bundesliga match against FC Bayern Munich on January 12 in Baden-Württemberg, Germany.
- TSG 1899 Hoffenheim currently sit in seventh place in the Bundesliga table, but their defensive consistency has been a concern, as they have already conceded 30 goals in 16 games, putting them at risk of dropping positions in the highly competitive German soccer league.
- Head of licensed soccer, Pirmin Schwegler, expressed his hope that the team can build on their first half of the season and maintain their persistent approach, acknowledging that they "should not rest on their laurels" as they face the daunting task of taking on FC Bayern Munich, who are known for their strong defensive performances.
- In the midst of their preparations, U17 world champion Max Moerstedt, who is training with the professionals, was warmly welcomed by his teammates during lunch, drawing praise from coach Pellegrino Matarazzo for his confidence and ability to bring new ideas to the team in the defensive midfield position.
- Despite not attending a training camp abroad this winter, TSG 1899 Hoffenheim will face off against FC Augsburg in a test match on Saturday, providing an opportunity to assess their defensive abilities and identify areas for improvement ahead of their Bundesliga clash against FC Bayern Munich, which will be crucial in determining their position in the table and their chances of success in the 2022-2023 German soccer season.
Source: www.stern.de
