Pellegrino Matarazzo on…
…1. FC Köln: “Under their new coach Timo Schultz, they have a different approach and defend in a controlled manner. They play with a lot more speed in attack too, even if that might have something to do with Davie Selke’s injury. Their game has changed.”
…the good record against Köln: “You always want to continue positive runs. Nonetheless, you always start from square one. We of course want to pick up three points in our home game on Sunday.”
… Köln’s victory last week: “Our starting point is to focus solely on our performance. We can influence that; that’s what we’re focusing on.”
…the record of one win in the last 11 games: “We picked up a lot of points in the opening phase of the season, but we’ve recently dropped a number of points because the efficiency hasn’t been right. To put it into perspective, one must reflect upon the past 12 months. I started here a year ago; we were in 14th position in the table at the time. Now we’re eighth and within touching distance of the European places. When I came a year ago, we were not capable of winning in the first matches. Now we’re capable of winning every game. But doesn’t mean that we’re satisfied. We want more. We have to harness our dissatisfaction and show it on the pitch on Sunday.”
…the work for the next victory: “Dissatisfaction has given us strength in the past too. There are two approaches in a phase like this: either you are carefree and calm or you work hard to develop the feeling. The latter is our approach. We work on it in every training session.”
…David Jurásek: “David is a super lad. He’s very pleasant and has been very well received in the dressing room. He needed time to settle in. There’s a different language, a different mentality and also a different intensity in training. Of course, there’s a possibility that he’ll be on the pitch on Sunday.”
…time penalties in football: “I actually think it would be good to have a certain flexibility. I often find that a sending-off for two bookings is very harsh, especially as there is also a suspension on top of that. I would welcome it and will follow the developments.”
…the demonstration against right-wing hate in Sinsheim on Saturday: “I think it’s super. If you have this position as a club, you should support it too. I am proud that we’re taking action as a club.”
…his one-year tenure: “I didn’t get a present, but I don’t need one either. (laughs) I want a win on Sunday; that would be the best present.”
The personnel situation:
In addition to the long-term injury absentees Marco John and Mergim Berisha, John Anthony Brooks is also suspended. Meanwhile, Florian Grillitsch has served his suspension and is available once again. Dennis Geiger and Finn Becker are also options for the squad again.
The opposition’s form:
Köln, who are currently 16th in the relegation play-off place, beat Eintracht Frankfurt 2-0 last week and returned to winning ways following a six-match run without a victory.
The head-to-head record:
Hoffenheim have the clearly superior record. TSG have emerged as winners in 13 of the 25 Bundesliga clashes, with 1. FC Köln winning five times. TSG have lost only one of the last 15 meetings.t