Eugen Polanski: „We have to get our fans behind us“

Hi Eugen, you recently made your 200th Bundesliga appearance. Was it a special feeling?

Eugen Polanski: I wasn't aware of that before the game. I was only informed after the match was over. 200 is a nice, high and round figure, but it doesn't make me a different player. I was the same person with 180 or 199 appearances. I think Andi Beck got himself suspended on purpose, just so I could wear the captain's armband for my 200th appearance (laughs).

What was the winning formula for Hoffenheim in Hannover?

Polanski: I think that it was obvious, both for fans in the stadium and for viewers at home, that both teams were looking to get a win at all costs. It was a scrappy win so to speak and a really hard-fought encounter. It was not an aesthetically pleasing game of football. We put in very compact performance as a team, defended tight as a unit and covered lots of ground. Those are things that are very important in games like that.

Borussia Dortmund come to town on Saturday. What are some of the things you will look to replicate from the Hannover game in order to secure a victory?

Polanski: Dortmund will certainly play a different type of football to Hannover, but we know how they like to play and we will be prepared for it. A victory in your last game obviously gives you confidence and that's what we will try to take into the meeting with BVB. Dortmund play attacking football, which could play into our hands, but it will still be a tough match for us. I think we will have a chance to get a win though, as long as we play to our true potential.

Dortmund will have played against FC Bayern during the week. Is that an advantage for TSG?

Polanski: I don't think so. Everyone in Dortmund is used to playing three times a week. We know from our own experiences that you can go full throttle on Saturday, even if you've played a game on Tuesday.

Will the DFB Cup semi-final between Dortmund and FC Bayern on Tuesday have an impact your encounter with BVB?

Polanski: I will definitely watch the game tonight, but I don't think that it will have an impact our meeting with Dortmund. Jürgen Klopp has announced that he will leave BVB after this season and I think that will help them perform better as a unit. They will have made plans in order to give their coach a good farewell present and will look to play well in the closing stages of the season.

The DFB Cup exit against BVB was only a few weeks ago. Will you now be extra motivated to get a result this time around?

Polanski: We shouldn't enter the game looking to get revenge for the DFB Cup elimination, as that could be counter-productive. There are three vital points up for grabs on Saturday and we need to keep our heads clear in order to secure them. Our defeat against Dortmund in the cup has been dealt with. Our entire concentration and focus is now on Saturday and the Bundesliga. We want to keep the three points at home.

How would you rate the importance of this encounter?

Polanski: In the end, it's a game like any other and three points is the reward. We can still make a charge in the table and Dortmund are close behind us. Our goal is to get the maximum out of this season and ideally we will still climb a place or two in the standings.

The stadium is sold-out on Saturday. What role will the fans play against BVB?

Polanski: We can all sense that the season has entered its decisive phase. We need the support of our fans, of course, but they haven't disappointed us so far. We always feel that they are behind us, even when we take to the pitch to warm up. They push us forward and it means a lot to us. However, in the end, it is up to us to get our fans to support us.

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