Interview with Ryan Babel

Ryan, you missed the game against Bremen because you had collected 5 yellow cards. What are your chances of returning to the first eleven for the game against Mainz this weekend?

I can't answer that. The guys did a really good job in Bremen. I could understand if Markus Babbel didn't want to change anything. But I've trained well and of course I'm hoping to play.

Markus Babbel has presided over his first week as manager of the club. What impression have you made of him so far?

He is a coach with a lot of experience and has a great playing career behind him. You notice that in what he says and how he analyses things, and that can only be a benefit for us.

You have a quirky anecdote about Markus Babbel from your time at Liverpool, correct?

Yes, that's right. Journalists in England used to call me Markus. I thought it was a simple mistake, because our surnames are very similar, but they really meant it seriously (laughs).

On Friday Hoffenheim take on Mainz. What sticks in your mind when you think of games against Mainz?

What sticks in my mind is the away game against earlier in the season. I managed to score twice. It was great feeling to climb on the fence and sing ‘Humba' with the fans on a megaphone. Hopefully we can have a repeat that feeling tonight.