Herrlich: All out for home debut

A premiere that should be a hit. "I expect the team to go all out and use passion to achieve the best possible result." Said Herrlich at the pre-match press conference on Friday. "Wide awake from the start" is the maximum for his team ahead of the meeting with Hoffenheim to avoid a repeat of the opening game at FC Bayern where the Werkself were unable to recover from an early deficit despite a courageous performance in the second half. "We want to carry on where we left off in the Bayern game," declared Herrlich. With one obvious difference: In the end there should be "not just a good performance but also an appropriate result" to ensure clocking up the first three points of the season.

No easy task against TSG who are one of the fancied teams in the Bundesliga despite their exit from the Champions League qualifying rounds against Liverpool. "Hoffenheim are an outstanding team and they defend high up the pitch and are full of ability," said Herrlich in sounding a warning about the team from the Kraichgau. "It will be a tough task and we have to be up to it." Herrlich believes preparations for this match are made more difficult as it is hard to predict which starting eleven Julian Nagelsmann will field after the European game in the week. "I assume they will rotate and not play with the same side as on Wednesday," said the Bayer 04 coach who does not see that necessarily as an advantage for his team: "The Hoffenheim squad has strength in depth. And they still have the same approach to playing the game."

Spoilt for choice

Herrlich also has several options in his team selection. With the exception of long-term absentee Tin Jedvaj, all the players in the Werkself squad trained this week and the youngster Kai Havertz is also available again. The coach is spoilt for choice – and he also faced logistical problems in training. "Even in an 11 v 11 practice match, two outfield players have to be on the sidelines," said Herrlich about his problem. The final decision will be made after the last pre-match training session with 18 players in the squad for the Hoffenheim game. Lars Bender is unlikely to be included. After a long time out injured, the midfielder faces a week of training and Thursday's friendly against VfL Bochum to give him the necessary capacity to get fully involved again.

Even without his captain, Heiko Herrlich believes the Werkself are ready for the first home game of the season. "The week of training and recent performances make me feel optimistic. The lads definitely want to show what they can do." And, regardless which eleven he opts for, the Bayer 04 coach is also looking for the support of the twelfth man in the stands: "The players on the pitch should get the supporters going and vice versa."