The Bundesliga start at Borussia Dortmund was accompanied by form fluctuations. The famous 5: 2 against Eintracht Frankfurt was followed by a bitter 1: 2 at SC Freiburg. Coach Marco Rose is hoping for a quick end to the mentality debate that has often been held in previous years. A win on Friday (8.30 p.m. /DAZN) over the surprise runner-up TSG Hoffenheim would help. However, there is once again bad news of a personal nature to report. Defense chief Mats Hummels will be out against Hoffenheim after his brief assignment in Breisgau. “He reacted immediately after the Freiburg game and did not do any team training during the week“said Rose at the press conference on Thursday.
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Hummels had not been used until the Freiburg game in this competitive season. The defender complained to the last of persistent problems with the patellar tendon. These are now also the reason why national coach Hansi Flick does not want to nominate the 32-year-old for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Liechtenstein, Armenia and Iceland for the first squad of his term of office. The successor to Joachim Löw had announced that he wanted to rely on proven forces for the not yet secured World Cup participation in Qatar in 2022. “We have to make sure that we get Mats to the point during the international break that it finally works afterwards – and that would of course be very important for us“, says Rose hopefully that his defensive veteran will return soon.
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Hope for more consistency and stability is fueled by the return of the regulars Raphael Guerreiro and Emre Can, who were also only substituted in in Freiburg after a long forced break. Thomas Meunier will also be back in the squad against Hoffenheim. “It’s an option again“, confirmed Rose. Thorgan Hazard (ankle problems) and Nico Schulz (muscular problems) will still be absent.
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Rose: “If we win the game, we are on the right track”
Borussia would do well not to underestimate their opponents. After all, Hoffenheim have taken their good form from last season into the new season and have been unbeaten in nine Bundesliga games. In addition, BVB only won one of the last seven point games against TSG. In the Bundesliga, BVB has three points after two games. They now want to deliver against Hoffenheim. “If we win the game then we are on the right track. Otherwise it will be very uncomfortable“, Rose is aware of the importance of the game.
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