In the last game of 2024, TSG Hoffenheim welcomes Borussia Mönchengladbach on Saturday (3:30 p.m./live ticker on tsg-hoffenheim.de). Before the duel with Borussia, head coach Christian Ilzer spoke about his first weeks in Kraichgau, the pre-Christmas mood and his thoughts on the upcoming game.
Christian Ilzer about…
… his expectations for the game: “I expect an opponent who is in the flow and has obviously found himself. We have prepared in detail and want to bring our game to the pitch at a very good level. If it ends up being a spectacle that ends up being positive for us, then of course I have nothing against it.”
… the last game of the year: “It would be important to end the year with a good performance. We played a very good game in Dortmund and would like to get a good result again against Gladbach.”
… the training week: “You have to give the boys time at the beginning to cool down a bit and dedicate themselves to regeneration. After that, we put the emphasis on staying on track and going through this week of training.”
… his first few weeks: “I feel comfortable here at the club and in my daily work with the team. The most important thing is that we have taken steps forward, even if the results have not been as we would have hoped. We have further developed parameters and have a good spirit in the team.”
… Christmas mood: “I actually don’t have any pre-Christmas tingles yet. The current phase is too intense for that, it is also important that we focus on the games. If we make the game successful, the mood can also arise. I will travel to Austria over the Christmas period and celebrate with my family.”
… Andrej Kramarić: “I see him as a very important part of the group. I also have a very good exchange with him. He is also finding his place in the structure better and better. It is important to place him in such a way that he can make the best possible use of his qualities. The training performance is very good.”
… the winter timetable: “After the game on Saturday we are going on holiday, the boys have a home program so that they are well prepared for the start of training on January 2nd. Then we start preparing for the game against Wolfsburg. We will have a friendly against FC Augsburg. These are the key data for the very short winter break.”
… possible transfers in winter: “We don’t plan to make any major personnel changes. We have some injured players who will return during January. It is important to fully exploit your own potential. But we have made no secret of the fact that our goal is to sign a striker.”
… the personnel situation: “Max Moerstedt sustained an ankle injury during training during the week and will be out for the game against Mönchengladbach, but could be available again for the start of training in January. Everything is going according to plan for Grischa Prömel, but you can't expect him to return in the spring. Everything is going well for Ozan Kabak now, we hope that he will join the team again in the spring. But we’ll give him time until he regains full confidence in his knee.”
The opponent's form:
Borussia Mönchengladbach is in eleventh place in a tight mid-table, but with 21 points is only three points behind SC Freiburg in fifth place. Most recently there was a draw against Borussia Dortmund (1:1) and a win against Holstein Kiel (4:1).
The duels so far:
With a win, TSG Hoffenheim could even the balance. So far in the Bundesliga there have been eleven Gladbach victories compared to ten Hoffenheim successes, and there have also been eleven draws.
Data & facts about the game »
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