TSG Hoffenheim: expand home series against Eintracht Frankfurt (update) – regional ticker
Zuzenhausen. (dpa) Sebastian Hoeneß does not even want to participate in the debate about viewers in the Bundesliga – his concentration of TSG 1899 Hoffenheim gold completely to the next opponent Eintracht Frankfurt. “I think it is irrelevant what I want,” said the Kraichgauer coach on Thursday about possible ghost games or not. The 39-year-old strives for one thing after all: That his team establish themselves with a success on the international places.
The fifth in the table also stopped selling tickets for the time being in anticipation of a political decision, according to TSG, the fans have so far acquired 10,000 for the game on Saturday (3:30 p.m. / Sky). In front of their own audience in Sinsheim, Hoffenheim recently celebrated three wins without conceding a goal. They also landed two successes in a row for the first time this season with a 2-0 win against RB Leipzig and a 6-3 win at SpVgg Greuther Fürth.
“We want to go further. We want to expand our mini-series and expand the somewhat larger home series,” said Hoeneß. “The boys sense that there are some things going in the right direction.”
However, TSG have lost the last six games against the currently significantly improved Eintracht. The last win (1-0) came from the 31st matchday in the 2016/2017 season.
Since the Frankfurters, who are only two points worse, have a lot going on with Filip Kostic, the Serb deserves special attention. Normally a case for Pavel Kaderabek, but the Czech full-back has not been training with the team for long after an ankle injury. “In the end, Pavel was out for six weeks. He’s definitely not a starting XI candidate,” said Hoeneß. Alternatives on the right are Stefan Posch and Kevin Akpoguma.
“They have developed into a really good Bundesliga team that plays very hard and robust,” said the TSG coach about the Frankfurt team: “They are probably the best in form in the league at the moment after Bayern.”
Eintracht also often shone through late goals. “In line, I try to reduce stoppage time through the first fourth official,” joked Hoeneß when asked about appropriate measures. “However, it would be outstanding if in the end a goal were no longer decisive for the Frankfurters.”
Goalkeeper Oliver Baumann is back after an infection, and possibly Sebastian Rudy as well after recovering from muscular problems. According to Hoeneß, the biggest question mark is behind Christoph Baumgartner’s commitment: The Austrian was recently absent due to a thigh injury, but has “made quite good progress”.
| The PK in front #TSGSGE
die #Press conference before the Bundesliga match against Eintracht Frankfurt with head coach Sebastian # Hoeneß.
#TSGSGE https://t.co/eJrpmPuxbe– TSG Hoffenheim (@tsghoffenheim) December 2, 2021