Parensen: "We want to impose our style on TSG"

You were promoted in the summer and currently sit in 10th place with 20 points. Have you exceeded your own expectations?

"It's going very well and we're enjoying every minute. At the start, we didn't really know where we stood and first needed to find our way in the league. But we've now found our feet and are trying to impose our style upon the rest of the division. It might not always be nice to watch, but it is true to the Union way and it is proving to be more successful than we could've ever hoped for."

Union have picked up 20 points at home, how is the Alte Försterei such a fortress?

"There is a different atmosphere here that some teams need time to get used to – even if they're used to playing in front of larger crowds on a regular basis. It's a small and confined stadium where fans are part of the game and drive us forward. That spurs us on and given that our game is already based on passion and getting stuck in, we're able to squeeze out an extra two percent. It gives us a big energy boost."

You'll have been with Union 11 years in January. How has the club changed in that time?

"Everything has generally got a lot bigger. A lot has been done in terms of infrastructure; we'd never have envisaged a stadium like this back then. The standing areas had just been built and there was a small main tribune. But the training facilities have developed too; we used to simply get changed in containers. All in all, the club has grown unbelievably – in terms of media too. There is a lot more attention, Union are perceived differently in the media and a lot more people come. But the club's core values have remained the same over the years: solidarity and mutual responsibility are what constitutes the essence of Union. That's our big strength and it generates a lot of sympathy for the club. Lots of people in Germany think what we're doing is good and they are willing us to succeed."

What are you expecting from TSG?

"TSG had a difficult start. Then they went through a very good spell but recently the results have taken another downturn. But we'll still be up against a strong footballing side that has a lot of possession and a lot of quality going forward. It'll be very interesting, because it will be a clash between two completely different approaches. We want to impose our style on Hoffenheim – let's see if we can manage it."