TSG Hoffenheim coach Christian Ilzer warns about Schalke, Digi Mart USA News (Sinsheim): Schalke 04 is deep in crisis. The club is hovering near the bottom of the table in the second-to-last position, has won only one league match so far this season, and was knocked out of the German Cup by second-division side Dynamo Dresden, losing 2-0.
Still, Hoffenheim should not expect an easy match. Austrian coach Christian Ilzer, 49, said the standings do not decide games: “Table constellations do not win or lose matches.” He called the Traditionsklub dangerous despite its losing streak, praising Schalke coach Miron Muslic: “Miron Muslic is doing an excellent job as a coach at Schalke.
Schalke plays with incredible intensity and is extremely strong in one-on-one duels.”
The focus now turns to Sunday’s Bundesliga match after a frustrating week. Hoffenheim conceded a last-minute equalizer in a 1-1 draw at Crystal Palace, missing a chance to win the away match in London.
Ilzer described mixed feelings about the trip. “I have two feelings.
On one hand, I am proud of the team and the performance. In a phase that is not easy, we showed character and responsibility.
On the other hand, we are naturally disappointed that we could not turn the good performance into a win. We have to work through what went wrong.
Showing good performances is not enough for us. We also want to take the wins.” Hoffenheim hopes to secure those points as early as Sunday against Schalke.
