Get the basics right against Dortmund

Markus Gisdol on...

…the opponents:

Everyone knows what shape Dortmund are in right now. They’re the best team in Germany at the moment. We will simply embrace the task, try to play the best we can and then we’ll see what happens. BVB are incredibly fast going forward, are great on the counter and look to win the second ball constantly. Even the first tackle will be important. We have to battle Dortmund with a high intensity and tenacity.

…personnel:

There’s good news about both Kevin Volland and Pirmin Schwegler. They were both able to train with the team on Tuesday so we’re hopeful that they will be available for Wednesday.

…the current situation:
We’ve done an extra training session this week – it was about some tactical basics. It’s normal for not all of our sessions to be open to the public when there’s a midweek matchday. It doesn’t have anything to do with the current situation.

The team is encouraging me. We’ve got a good bunch on lads here and we’re trying to pull together. We need a result to turn the corner. We have to show unbridled commitment to get it and that’s what we want to produce.

The players have done a lot of thinking, perhaps too much. There are some who will watch a game over once or twice to try and find solutions. We have to keep it simple and get the basics right – that’s the real challenge.

Previous meetings:

The two sides have faced each other 14 times before in the Bundesliga. The record is fairly well balanced, with TSG recording four wins and BVB claiming five. That means there have also been five draws. The most important Hoffenheim win? That came on 18th May 2013. We needn’t say more.

Opponents’ form:

BVB are looking good, very good in fact. They’ve won all eleven of their competitive games so far this season and have made the best Bundesliga start in history after five matchdays. Thomas Tuchel’s team are firing on all cylinders, there seems to be no stopping Aubameyang and Mkhitaryan, and Matthias Ginter suddenly looks to have more than found his feet in Black and Yellow. There’s not much Dortmund could be doing better.

Key battles:

Dortmund do almost everything well. They’re in the top five in almost every attacking statistic, while they’re in the top three for nearly everything defensive. Considering BVB’s flowing, offensive play, the fact that they have won 55% of their challenges is somewhat surprising and represents the second-best record in the league. That’s something TSG could focus on. If Gisdol’s men can come out on top in the challenges, it will make it harder for Dortmund to get into their rhythm.

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