Marco Kurz: “We have to be aggressive against Mainz”

According to Kurz, everyone worked hard in training and no one held back following last week's victory in Fürth. Every player knows they have to up the ante. The win against Greuther Fürth was the first step. The next one has to come against Mainz.

It won't be an easy task. Mainz are currently seventh in the Bundesliga table and have high hopes of a place in the Europa League. Hoffenheim can't afford to underestimate them, or as sporting director Andreas Müller says: “We will have to add something to the performance against Fürth to get anything from Mainz."

A strong performance in Fürth allows TSG to go into the game with confidence. “You could really feel the sense of achievement in training this week,” said Kurz, whose side have grown in confidence. “The team believe in themselves, their abilities, the club and of course that they will stay up,” explained Kurz.

David Abraham back in squad

The visitors are difficult to predict. “Mainz 05 are known for a lot of tactical changes under Thomas Tuchel. You never know if they are going to stick with the same formation that they started the game with.” TSG will have to “be aggressive” if they want to hinder Mainz's variable style of play.

Kurz didn't reveal which of his players will be involved on Saturday. It's seems “unlikely” that Fabian Johnson will play after struggling with muscle problems. David Abraham (adductor problems) is however once again available for selection in central defence. The match comes around too quickly for both Sebastian Rudy and Sejad Salihovic. They will resume training next week.

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