On Sunday, the 31-year-old had to leave the field at half-time, but he still has his eye on the game in Munich.
Hoffenheim’s Kevin Vogt may be able to play again in Munich.
IMAGO/Nordphoto
Shortly before the half-time whistle on Sunday in the 2-0 win against Schalke 04, Kevin Vogt suddenly dropped onto the pitch for no apparent reason and signaled the need for treatment. It was still possible until half-time, but after the break the central defender stayed in the dressing room and made room for ex-Schalke player Ozan Kabak.
When asked, Pellegrino Matarazzo spoke of a “knee problem, hopefully it’s not that bad,” the TSG coach hoped, the joint was “allegedly just blocked, he tried to test it, but then realized it wasn’t working”. According to kicker information, the all-clear has now been given to Vogt, who probably has not suffered any serious structural damage. The veteran should start training again in the middle of the week, in time for the game on Saturday in Munich against FC Bayern.
After his unprofessional yellow-red card and the resulting 2-1 defeat in Freiburg, Kabak initially lost his place on the right in the back three due to the suspension that was due. Instead, Matarazzo had appointed Vogt to this position. A new role for the defense boss, who for years as the central player opener had directed the row of three and opened the Hoffenheim game. This measure had several reasons.
New game opening
Matarazzo has ordered the previously insecure TSG to open the game more appropriately and less risky and vulnerable, with long shots mostly from goalkeeper Oliver Baumann or the central defenders, their own half of the game is quickly bridged in order to establish themselves in the opposing half with determined counter-pressing. In addition, John Anthony Brooks, who is strong in the air but less agile, should hold the center and the last line, but his neighbors should always push ahead in order to catch opponents early on. A task that suits the fleet-footed Vogt much better. If the game on Saturday doesn’t come too early after his injury, it will be interesting to see how and in which line-up Matarazzo will tackle the special task with the record champions.
In any case, Kabak was not able to do without a warning against his ex-club, which he had left for Hoffenheim after a loan to Norwich in the summer for six million euros. This time, however, the Turkish national player was innocent and fell victim to a mistake in perception by the otherwise good referee Matthias Jöllenbeck. With the win against his former colleagues, not only did TSG take a big step towards staying up, but especially Kabak, who is well on the way to successfully mastering his fourth relegation battle in a row (previously with Stuttgart, Schalke and Norwich) for the first time.
