“We need clarity and purpose”

VfB’s away game on Saturday evening at 18:30 CET in Sinsheim will probably feel more like a home game. Not only is the visiting section of the PreZero Arena sold out, but numerous VfB fans have also bought tickets in other areas of the stadium, meaning that red is likely to be the dominant colour. Coach Sebastian Hoeneß is looking forward to the atmosphere on his return to his former employers. “We always have very good support, which we look forward to and can always rely on, and we also need that boost from our fans,” he said in his pre-match press conference. “It’s a special match for me, I can’t lie. It’s an important match for us but also for Hoffenheim and their goals. We need a great deal of clarity and purpose, and want to go into the international break with a good performance, accompanied by a good result.”

Hoeneß will be forced to make changes in defence to his team, who are unbeaten in six games. Anthony Rouault, Dan-Axel Zagadou and Nikolas Nartey are all unavailable due to injury. “Waldemar Anton didn’t train today but that was purely a precautionary measure,” revealed the VfB boss. “He’ll train again tomorrow, no question. Hiro had a few little problems yesterday but completed everything today.” Regarding the situation in the defence, Hoeneß added: “We have to find solutions and weigh up whether we play with three or four at the back. There’s no reason to moan or wrangle. We’ll send a strong team onto the pitch. Hoffenheim also have two absentees in the centre of defence with [John Anthony] Brooks and [Ozan] Kabak.”

The 41-year-old described the seventh-placed hosts as “individually very well equipped”, adding: “They’ve gone up another level there. They’re hard to play through and have two quick counter-attacking players in Maxi Beier and Ihlas Bebou.”