week 34 - match preview

Büskens: Hoffenheim on the way up

A win on the final day of the Bundesliga season (23 May, 15.30 CET, VELTINS Arena) will put the Royal Blues above TSG Hoffenheim in seventh place. “As coach, I’m looking for the lads to produce the goods,” Mike Büskens declared.

“When I played, I always set out to be on the winning side. That’s what makes us go to work every day,” he added. The 41-year-old coach is convinced the Bundesliga newcomers will make life as difficult as possible for the Royal Blues on Saturday. “Hoffenheim are clearly a team on the way up,” he said, pointing to recent wins against FC Köln and Arminia Bielefeld, plus a draw at home to Bayern Munich.

“They’re strong going forward and they’ve got a couple of very talented players,” continued the coach, analysing TSG’s strengths. The Royal Blues will have to keep the Hoffenheim defence on their toes and, at the same time, put pressure on their front men to prevent them getting too close to the Schalke goal.

Büskens never expected Hoffenheim would find it so difficult in 2009, given they were top of the Bundesliga at the winter break. “We could all see that Hoffenheim got off to a flying start in the league campaign. I don’t think anyone would have predicted that at the start of the season.”

But then a number of factors conspired to undo their good work, the coach pointed out. “Their best striker Ibisevic was sidelined. Some of their key players picked up suspensions. And after the winter break, they weren’t treated as underdogs any more, and their opponents adopted a different approach to playing them,” Büskens reasoned. “Their own expectations and ambitions also rose as they were top of the league. I can well imagine that this combination of circumstances made it more difficult for them after the restart.”

Ahead of the last home game of the season, the Royal Blues coach is keen to see his side pick up three points for the sake of the fans. “They haven’t had it easy this season. So it’s vital we finish off with a win before the summer break.”