Hoffenheim vs Hamburg preview - Gisdol demands final push - 7M sport

Hoffenheim vs Hamburg preview - Gisdol demands final push



Posted Friday, March 13, 2015 by PA

Hoffenheim coach Markus Gisdol has called on one final push from his side heading into the final 10 games of the season.

Since being promoted to the top flight in 2008, Hoffenheim have frequently been touted as candidates for a place in Europe, although they have yet to fulfil that ambition.

According to Gisdol, they are now in a position to deliver that ticket to a tour of the continent, and he has laid down the gauntlet to his players to take it.

"The club's not been in a situation like this for a long time," he said at a press conference. "We're in the quarter-final of the cup, even if we have a difficult draw, and we're seventh in the Bundesliga.

"We are there even though the second half of the season has not been fantastic for us, and we've still got plenty of room for improvement.

"I'm not going to make any big proclamations, but we're heading into the final phase of the season, there are 10 games to go and everything will be decided now.

"We've discussed it with the players and, in a phase like this, you can create a special atmosphere and achieve something beautiful and extraordinary."

Five points separate Hoffenheim from the top six and a place in the Europa League, although seventh may suffice if the DFB-Pokal finalists both qualify via their league position.

Gisdol is not expecting Saturday's clash with Hamburg to be a walk in the park, though, with the northern Germany side just two points clear of the relegation zone.

"I fear it might be a very aggressive game," Gisdol said.

Hamburg coach Josef Zinnbauer also suggest as much at his pre-match press conference, saying he wants his side to be "robust and aggressive" while trying to get the ball to their forwards as quickly as possible.

"It's only natural that, being in a relegation battle, we play a little more aggressively, but we've always had good referees who have been able to keep control of games, and that will remain the case."

Zinnbauer is once again unable to pick Lewis Holtby, who was "very disappointed" not to be given the green light by the club doctor, while Nicolai Muller misses out through suspension.



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