While a Bayer trio is with the DFB team, Jonas Hofmann is training in Leverkusen. Managing director Simon Rolfes talks about his situation.
Jonas Hofmann has not yet given up hope of being nominated for the European Championships. IMAGO/Sven Simon
With Jonathan Tah, Robert Andrich and Florian Wirtz, three professionals from leaders Bayer are currently in the DFB selection. And as it currently looks at least, all three also play an important role in national coach Julian Nagelsmann’s plans. Tah in the back four, Andrich as part of the double six and Wirtz as the “magician” in the offensive. The fourth potential German international in Leverkusen’s squad is now out, at least for the time being. Offensive man Jonas Hofmann is not going through an easy phase.
He was unable to maintain the top form that the 31-year-old was in in the first third of this season. By matchday 12, Hofmann had collected an outstanding twelve scorer points in the Bundesliga alone – since then he has had two direct goal contributions across all competitions. He lost some of his lightness and his effectiveness in the final third decreased. At times his quality flashed when he moved into the half-spaces and curved towards the goal. However, he lost the extreme consistency and great consistency.
Hofmann should be an option again against Hoffenheim
Positive: Against VfL Wolfsburg (2:0) after his substitution and against Qarabaq Agdam (3:2) in the second leg of the Europa League round of 16, Hofmann started the game improved, moved well and put together some good actions in the final third. The fact that he had to leave the field against the Azerbaijanis after less than 30 minutes with muscular problems fit into the picture. Things haven’t really gone well for the Bayer professional recently.
I’m sure he’ll be able to reward himself again soon. There are sometimes these phases in a season where you have to adjust your focus.
Simon Rolfes about Jonas Hofmann
He started the new training week this Monday and, given the situation, should be an option again against Hoffenheim on Saturday (3:30 p.m., LIVE! on kicker). Will the race to catch up then follow? In order to have a chance at the European Championships, Hofmann will have to stretch. Especially since he took part in the previous two DFB training courses, but Nagelsmann only sent him onto the field against Mexico (2:2) – for 25 minutes. The competition is great. And time is running. Hofmann must quickly regain the “momentum” that the national coach spoke of.
Bayer’s managing director Simon Rolfes tells kicker: “He got into the game well against Wolfsburg and against Qarabag recently. In these games he has again developed more determination and more danger going forward. There is no question that he was important for our positional play before . Now he has shown this move towards the goal again. I am therefore sure that he will soon be able to reward himself again. There are sometimes these phases in a season in which you have to adjust your focus. And then you take another step in front.”
Rolfes encourages Hofmann: “There are still a few weeks left”
Rolfes in no way sees the fact that the 23-time national player is under a certain pressure to act and that Nagelsmann should impose himself in the next games as a possible obstacle. “It will motivate him,” he says. “Even though this is the last course before the European Championship nomination, a lot can still happen – I know that from my own painful experience.” The former six-man missed the World Cup in South Africa in 2010 and the European Championships in Poland and Ukraine in 2012. Of course, these are not anecdotes that Rolfes can use to build up his Werkself professionalism. But his message is clear: the reckoning will come at the end.
“There are still a few weeks left,” emphasizes Rolfes and explains: “For us, Jonas is a very important player, he is ambitious, works hard. He has to continue to show this ambition, this will. And who knows what will happen next will happen in the next few weeks.”
One thing is clear: these will definitely be crucial weeks for Hofmann. At club level, because Leverkusen still have three title options. And at association level, because this home European Championship takes place in the summer, which you only see once in your life.
2024-03-25 16:44:44
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