Saturday’s away match at Hoffenheim (kick-off 15:30 CEST) marks the start of a busy week for the Wolves ahead of their second Champions League match of the season. In his pre-match press conference, VfL head coach Mark van Bommel discussed…
… last week: “We won at Fürth, we played poorly at Lille but got a point with 10 men. Against Frankfurt we were actually very good and should have won. The team never got edgy in those three games. We know what to do on the pitch and find solutions, which is nice to see for a coach.”
… possible rotation: “Whether and how you do it always depends on the match. We don’t just rotate for rotation’s sake; it also has to make sense. Clearly there are some who are playing more often than others, but that’s always the way in every team.”
… the personnel situation: “Everyone trained again today, including those who finished early on Tuesday. Obviously we still have the long-term absentees, Bartosz Bialek, William, Xaver Schlager and Paulo Otavio. Otherwise everyone’s fit and ready.”
… opponents Hoffenheim: “Basically, what I said before the Frankfurt game applies here. Hoffenheim could equally have got more points. At Dortmund, for example, they certainly could’ve won. The level in the Bundesliga is just so high that anyone can beat anyone. That’s the nice thing about the league, that it’s very even.”
… preparation for the match: “We watch every opponent three or four times in the run-up, or live in the stadium. We then base the training on that to a degree. That’s the case before every match, not just this one. The team are certainly very well prepared, which is important. Of course that doesn’t give any guarantee, but it increases the likelihood of winning there.”
