FIRST TEAM
03/15/2018

Before #BMGTSG: "We can create a gap!"

At 15:30 CET on Saturday, TSG Hoffenheim head to Borussia Mönchengladbach. achtzehn99.de noted the key quotes from head coach Julian Nagelsmann ahead of the duel with Dieter Hecking's side.

Julian Nagelsmann on...

... the opposition.

"Borussia Mönchengladbach started the season well and were at the top end of the table. Now, they're having a bit of a lull but that's totally normal. They've had injuries to key personnel. Despite their injuries, it's tough to name a bad player in Dieter Hecking's squad. There simply isn't one. Their first choice XI is one which is competing at the very top end of the Bundesliga. I think Gladbach will pick up again soon. Hopefully, they can do that next week though instead - that'd be nice!"

... squad news.

"On Tuesday, Robert Zulj picked up a knock on his instep but it shouldn't be a big issue. As it stands, Lukas Rupp will miss out with a calf problem. He ran 12.6 kilometres against Wolfsburg including lots of intense sprints. We're not assuming he'll be able to play. He and Dennis Geiger will have to be replaced."

 ... Dennis Geiger.

"When he's been fit, he's appeared in almost every game this season. He's a key player for us but now he's out until the end of the season. We have the squad to compensate for him though. He's a young lad and we can't depend on him too much. Sure, he's important for the team but we shouldn't fall apart because he's injured. It's a bad injury but not a career-threatening one. Ideally, he'll be fully fit for the start of next season." 

... the sporting situation I.

"In the last two games, we've changed our fundamentals when it comes to possession. We want to be interchangeable against Gladbach and continue to defend well. With the ball, we want to change up our game too. I wouldn't say this game is a 'six-pointer'. I'm not a fan of that phrase. However, a win would create a gap between us and our opponents."

 ... the sporting situation II.

"The loss in the reverse fixture hurt us - especially as it ended our 22 match unbeaten run at home. In the first half, we played well. We pressed our opponent and defended high up the pitch. We controlled the game for the most part. We forced our opponents into long balls which we won almost all of. Unfortunately, we couldn't create enough goalscoring opportunities to reflect our dominance. Then, Gladbach were clinical with each of their chances and took them all to win."

The recent clashes

The two sides have met in the Bundesliga on 19 occasions. Hoffe have won seven to Gladbach's six. The game has ended a draw six times as well. Hoffenheim have struggled in Mönchengladbach recently though, failing to win in their last five visits to BORUSSIA-PARK.  

The opposition's form

Borussia haven't started well following the winter break. Borussia have failed to score in five of their past seven Bundesliga matches. With seven points from nine games so far, the Fohlenelf have made the second worst start to a second half of the season in their history. This calendar year, Gladbach have mustered up six goals in nine games which is a new low for the club.

The key battle

In order to pick up three points, TSG have to neutralise the hosts' attack on Saturday. The likes of Raffael and Thorgan Hazard are available as well as the team's fulcrum - Lars Stindl. TSG's goalkeeper, Oliver Baumann, wants to keep his clean sheet record going and, if Borussia are kept at bay, then in-form forwards, Andrej Kramaric and Serge Gnabry, can turn the game in TSG's favour. 

Match facts and statistics »

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