Ten games without a win and deep in the relegation battle. Hoffenheim’s Pellegrino Matarazzo is still hoping for the effect of the change of coach before the game in Augsburg.
Zuzenhausen (dpa / lsw) – With returnee Kevin Vogt as defense chief, TSG 1899 Hoffenheim, which has fallen into the relegation battle, finally wants to turn the tide. The 31-year-old will be available again at FC Augsburg on Friday evening (8.30 p.m. / DAZN), as Pellegrino Matarazzo confirmed. “Kevin stimulates the structure of the game, has a very good foot, has speed. In training this week he also showed that he can have a loud voice,” said the new coach of the Kraichgauer, who have been victorious in the Bundesliga for ten games.
Especially on the defensive, TSG gave a bad picture – also on Matarazzo’s debut in the 1: 3 against Bayer Leverkusen. The troubled team has already conceded 39 goals in 20 games; the rate of duels won (47.8 percent) does not speak for the team around captain and goalkeeper Oliver Baumann. Winter shopping John Brooks wasn’t able to give the back three much support either, and his teammates Ozan Kabak and Stanley Nsoki were also rarely convincing.
Vogt was recently absent from three league games due to muscular problems. Czech full-back Pavel Kaderabek is also back. “In Kevin and Pavel we have two players who have been training all week. They make a good impression and are both options for the game,” said Matarazzo on Thursday.
The long-term injured Grischa Prömel and Jacob Bruun Larsen are also missing. Robert Skov (calf injury) and the suspended Dennis Geiger are also out for Augsburg. The training week was characterized by “a lot of field work, a lot of video analysis, a lot of content and a lot of discussions,” said Matarazzo. He continues to hope for the effect of the change of coach. The 45-year-old had André Breitenreiter at Table 14 a week ago. superseded. “The fact that players offer themselves in training gives the team energy. My first impression is very positive,” said the former head coach of VfB Stuttgart.
When asked whether the team psychologist was particularly in demand, he said: “We all work as psychologists.” Matarazzo spoke several times of a process that could be accelerated by a good result from Augsburg, who are two points better. “The boys are very active and want to. That’s a very, very good sign.”
The TSG coach had already asserted after the sobering Leverkusen game that the pros had really arrived in the unexpected relegation battle. “Now the last person has to be aware of what it’s all about – keeping the class,” said playmaker Christoph Baumgartner and warned: “Now we have a new coach, not the first in recent years. That means: now the team is challenged , there are no more excuses, every single player has to deliver.” Quality on paper means nothing. “It has to be visible on the pitch,” said the Austrian.
