Marco Rose before Hoffenheim: “We remain ambitious”

Matchday 32!

For our boys, the next points in the Bundesliga will be at stake on Friday (8.30 p.m.) at TSG Hoffenheim. Our head coach Marco Rose was available to answer questions from the media beforehand and provided information on the following topics.

• Who can play? The current status of Mo Simakan, Eljif Elmas and Co.
   
• What will be important? Hoffenheim match preview
   
• Main goal achieved - RBL back in the Champions League for the 6th time in a row

We have summarized the statements of our head coach for you. You can also find the complete press conference in re-live.
 

The Squad Situation before #TSGRBL

• Mohamed Simakan has been training individually over the past few days. Our defender will train with the team on Thursday and will be ready to play against Hoffenheim on Friday.
   
• Eljif Elmas fell ill at short notice and is therefore unable to play against Hoffenheim.
   
• Christopher Lenz is still out. Marco Rose: "Chris is already back on the pitch. We hope to have him back in team training next week."
   

Marco Rose on...

... TSG Hoffenheim

• "A good team, with a lot of quality. They have everything it takes to be a strong Bundesliga team. They have a lot of speed in attack with Maximilian Beier, his star has risen this season, a super player. Then we will see whether Weghorst will play alongside him as a target player or Bebou as a second sprinter. That will also affect their style of play. Whether they play more with high balls or keep the ball on the ground.
  
  Behind them in the center they have two technically fine players in Grillitsch and Kramaric who can play deadly passes and make the difference. Overall, Hoffenheim has a lot of offensive power, they are very variable in many positions. But we also know where we have to start against them."
   

... the qualification for the Champions League

• "That was an important goal for us, and we've now achieved it. It's a great story. But we want to get as many Bundesliga points as possible. The boys are ambitious and will remain so even after qualifying for the CL. I won't tolerate complacency, nothing has changed in that regard. We remain ambitious."
   

Marco Rose on...

... possible rotation in the final stretch of the season

• "We are in a good mood, we are in a good flow. We should see this through to the end. The final impression I leave the season with is important and will be remembered. We will not give anything away or let it fade away, it won't work like that. We will keep the pace up.
  
  That's why we won't waste any playing time. Our goal remains to secure fourth place in the table, maybe even attack third place. That's what I hear from the team. So it will continue to be the case that you have to earn playing time through good training performances."