The frustrating home defeat to VfL Wolfsburg has been and gone, and VfB are looking ahead to Sunday’s visit to TSG Hoffenheim in the final game of Bundesliga Matchday 23. Head coach Sebastian Hoeneß has fond memories of his team’s last trip to Sinsheim, when VfB claimed a 3-0 win. “Last season’s performance at Hoffenheim was one of our very good ones,” he said. “Our fans always give us great support on our travels. We’re obviously hoping there’ll be a similar atmosphere to our last game.”
One of VfB’s main objectives at the moment, according to Hoeneß, is rediscovering their fluency in attack. “Our strikers will benefit if we add more dynamism and precision to our play in the final third,” he explained. “It will be important to make the right decisions.”
“A really good team”
Despite Hoffenheim’s precarious position in the table, Hoeneß has huge respect for Sunday’s opponents, telling the assembled media: “Despite the absentees, they put out a really good team on the pitch. You see particular qualities. They're looking for stability but they'll be very awkward to play against.”
Al-Dakhil and El Bilal making progress, Bruun Larsen closing in on return
Hoeneß also issued an update on his injured players: “You know about Dan-Axel Zagadou and Luca Raimund. El Bilal was with the team on the pitch today – it won't be much longer. Same with Ameen Al Dakhil, who's also on his way back to full training. Jacob Bruun Larsen didn’t only have a knock, he was also really ill for a couple of days. He probably won’t be ready for a place in the starting XI yet.”