Frank Kramer: We need to be organised in defence and avoid Hoffenheim’s threat in transition

“The DFB-Pokal is a brilliant competition. When you get the chance to advance to the next round, you have to give everything to do so,” said Kramer before the upcoming against against Hoffenheim. After the 3-0 loss in the Bundesliga, it is all about learning the right lessons from the game and applying them in the cup. “Hoffenheim got plenty of chances when we lost the ball. They transition quickly, it’s a real strength of theirs,” he commented, optimistic that this Tuesday’s clash will play out differently. “If we do what we set out to do with full determination, we will get chances and an opportunity to beat a good team like Hoffenheim,” he added, underlining the importance of being organised in defence and avoiding Hoffenheim’s threat on the counter as well as possible.

All ten outfielders on the pitch will be needed to make this a reality. “We have to improve our defensive focus throughout the team so that the boys in midfield can track back and provide even better support,” he explained. “Everyone has to work when the opponent has the ball and it’s all about defending our own goal.

Team selection not finalised

A late decision will be made regarding the personnel available to the 50-year-old later on this evening.  For one or two players, final training will be carefully controlled so that “we can hopefully have them available from minute one,” reported Kramer. The Knappen coach added that it is a good opportunity to rotate the starting XI, so that the team can be as fresh as possible during this congested period. “Everyone who is on the pitch on Tuesday has the right to play and show themselves. How you react to the game is decisive,” Kramer said.

On Tuesday evening, as well as in the upcoming games, it will be important to get the forwards even closer to goal. The Bundesliga game against Hoffenheim saw Schalke denied by the post on no fewer than two occasions, but there were also moments „in which we had the feeling that we had something and that we could hurt the opponent when we had the ball.” The head coach’s aim is clear: “We’re going to Sinsheim to progress to the next round.”