Andrej Kramaric was instrumental in Hoffenheim’s draw against RB Leipzig with his late equalizer. Before the remaining two weeks, he also made it clear that he wanted to go to Europe if possible.
Equalized shortly before the end against RB Leipzig: Andrej Kramaric. IMAGO/Nordphoto
“We actually played a great game, maybe even the best of the season […]”Because we played against one of the best teams in the Bundesliga and in Europe,” Andrej Kramaric praised his teammates after the 1-1 draw following the game DAZN and immediately looked ahead to the coming week. “I think this one point is very important for us and we know exactly what’s coming next week.” Then the TSG would have to “go full throttle, take three points from Darmstadt and then we can make it to Europe,” he made it unmistakably clear about where the journey should go in the remaining two games.
Kramaric’s reconciliation with the fans
For this to succeed, the fluctuations in performance must stop. “We often played well and then seven days later it was the other way around,” said Kramaric. “It was great today, but we can’t just show that on two out of 34 match days.”
His coach Pellegrino Matarazzo saw it similarly, who, after the 1-1 draw with Stuttgart on Matchday 1 of 2022/23, emerged from a duel with Leipzig for only the second time out of eight countable games. “I’m definitely happy with what the boys showed today. […] The boys got everything I wanted to see. Every man was ready to defend, we set good playful accents, especially in the second half it looked really good.” In addition, TSG “just showed mentality again, that’s what I wanted to see and that’s what it is direction for the last two weeks”.
Kramaric’s late goal can be seen as representative of the mentality. The Croatian, who said he could have scored “three goals today”, scored a Bundesliga goal in the 90th minute (or stoppage time) for the eleventh time in his career. In this category he is closing in on Claudio Pizarro, with whom he shares second place. Only Robert Lewandowski has scored more goals from the 90th minute (16) in the history of the Bundesliga.
Matarazzo’s praise for Bülter
One reason for the late success was the fans with whom he had clashed with the previous week in the 2-3 defeat in Bochum. “We felt that. It was a great performance from the fans today, great support. I have to be honest: I enjoyed it in some moments. That’s what we players want, not a fight like in Bochum. ”
Even in the defeat in Bochum, Marius Bülter was able to show his worth after being substituted on. For this he was called into the starting line-up against RB. And he repaid this trust. He always caused unrest on the left side and played a key role in the draw, especially with his cross to the goalscorer Kramaric. “Bülti did really well. We also tried to strengthen him during the week. He was good at it, was ready and also radiated energy.” The previous week against Bochum he had already “changed the game for us. That’s why he was ready to start again. In my opinion, he played a very good game and he was one of the top men on the pitch.”
It is quite possible that Bülter, alongside Kramaric, will be part of the TSG starting staff again next week in Darmstadt if the next three points are to be scored in order to put themselves in a good starting position for the European places before the last matchday against FC Bayern bring.
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2024-05-03 22:12:29
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