Markus Gisdol: “Youngsters have developed well”

Markus, the focus of the time in Spain has been work off the ball. This is similar to what we saw in Leogang in the summer…

Markus Gisdol: That is true. Winning the ball back through intense pressing is the basis of our game. It's for that reason we were so successful going forward in the first half of the season. We win the ball and then quickly turn defence into attack. A high tempo is pivotal to our style. The next step in the development is to make sure we are more organised after winning the ball back so that we don't lose the ball straight away and are out of position. This is achieved through theory sessions, detailed work and constant repetition. That's exactly what a training camp is perfect for.

Is it possible to implement such an intense style over two halves of football?

Gisdol: We change our shape during the game. We won't press outside the opposition box for 90 minutes long. The attacking line isn't fixed. It could also be near the halfway line. Over time, we must develop another quality – we need to have possession for longer phases, so that we can recover. On the pitch we've got to recognise when's the right time to play the pass into the gap in attack, and when the risk of losing possession is too great.

How far along are you to playing a more recognisable style of football?

Gisdol: We have made progress, but we are a long way from the end. The goal is to be so comfortable in our game that the fans can recognise it straight away. So that they say, that's typical Hoffenheim. The main thing is though, that we are never finished. There's always room for improvement. As football develops, so must teams and coaches.

Where do your ideas from modern football come from? What are your sources? Where do you get inspiration from?

Gisdol: Sometimes it happens randomly. In the evening when I watch football on the television, I often see things that I can imagine my team doing. Above everything though, the staff take a lot of time and thought and work very hard. They don't stop us from being creative or finding new ways either.

Are there any players in the squad that have great development potential?

Gisdol: Each and everyone has the potential to develop. As we have a lot of players in our squad, it's difficult to say which players will make an improvement and when. On the whole, I'm happy with the development of the team in the first half of the season. The team is better prepared than many thought before the start of the season. That alone shows that the youngsters in the squad have developed well.

What have you made of Jiloan Hamad in his first few weeks in the team? Are you happy with him?

Gisdol: In his first training session, he was impressed by the tempo and the intensity, something he struggled with. On the second day, he showed his quality. He has settled in quickly, and that's important. Of course we're looking after him in terms of theory, so that he moulds into the way we play football as quickly as possible. I am surprised at how well he has represented himself.

For both him and the team, there isn't much time left before the start of the second half of the season. Have you already got a starting XI in mind?

Gisdol: No. We will sit down in the last week before the game and prepare then. That's when we'll decide about each position. Until then, we'll try a few things out, both tactically and in terms of personnel. The time pressure means we won't try as much as in summer. I have a few ideas, but as a manager, you don't want to cause any confusion (laughs).

And how do you see your goals for the second half of the season?

Gisdol: I haven't made any objectives and that won't change. I promise only one thing: We will do all we can to make sure the team continues to develop. If we finish the season in the same position we are in at the moment, then it's been a good year.