Delaney after TSG’s Augsburg bankruptcy: “It hurts so much”

Thomas Delaney wants to move up the table again with TSG.

IMAGO/Ulrich Wagner

Even after the final whistle, the scenery is almost the same for Hoffenheim without a win for twelve competitive games. Only a few TSG professionals face the media afterwards, also a shortcoming in the current situation. Captain Oliver Baumann or Christoph Baumgartner, who has moved up to the team council, usually speak. In the meantime, another mouthpiece has been added in Thomas Delaney. In contrast to other Kasper Dolberg or John Anthony Brooks, who were brought in as supposed reinforcements and managers in the winter, the Dane, loaned from FC Sevilla, not only faces the task on the field, but also his responsibility as a leader.

Delaney: “We were better at everything”

So the 31-year-old answered questions again after the 0-1 draw in Augsburg and first talked about the pain he felt after the blow to his neck shortly before the final whistle. “It hurts so much,” assured Delaney, “I had a better feeling this time, physically, tactically, technically – we were better in everything. We also had good moments in play and then you concede a goal like that. It’s really difficult.”

The Kraichgauers were close at least to a respectable success that just doesn’t want to happen. “We need a sense of achievement that frees us, but we don’t get that,” Delaney argues. “It’s not enough to have a better feeling in training. We have to win and get points.” But the free fall towards the end of the table just doesn’t end there. “Sometimes 0-0 is okay, that would have been it. Then we would have a point and we would be on the right track,” said the veteran, “that’s why it hurts so much.”

Delaney back on track to physical best

Delaney had also overcome the physical pain and, despite his not yet perfect state of fitness, gritted his teeth to the end. “I hadn’t played much since November,” explains the midfielder, who injured his knee joint in Denmark’s first group game at the World Cup and had to sit out for a long time. “It was a lot better this time. Now I’m standing with a good one Body there after 90 minutes, I’m well on my way to being able to contribute even more to the team as one of the leaders.” After all, Delaney is already in the middle of catching up, at least in terms of his condition.

And despite the renewed setback, he also recognizes progress in the development of the team. “It was a good week, the coach showed us a lot, now it’s another long week that we can use,” hopes the former Dortmunder, who meets his old club in Sinsheim next Saturday. Is BVB a size too big for this TSG? “I think it doesn’t matter for us at the moment whether the opponent is Dortmund, Bayern or a third division team in the cup. We have to give everything we can, physically and mentally, it was a step on this path in Augsburg, so I hope that we get points quickly. There aren’t any easy games, whether away or at home, most of them are tight.”

The Dane calls for concentration on combat and defense

In order to get out of the misery, the Bundesliga returnee recommends concentrating on the combative and defensive components of the game. “For me, Hoffenheim is a team that plays interesting, attacking football,” says Delaney, before immediately qualifying: “But at the moment we’re down there, you can’t just get the points with nice football. But it was a lot better than last week so I’m confident we’ll turn this around quickly.” Either way, Delaney should at least face Delaney afterwards.