TSG defence: on the offensive

The change from back-up to quarterback comes quickly, and that’s what happened to Kevin Vogt this summer: a cheap addition to the squad intended to provide some squad depth – in midfield. Now the former Köln player has reinvented himself in Hoffenheim. Vogt is now the leader of the defence, and that in conjunction with his exemplary performances on the field drew comparisons with Tom Brady. Julian Nagelsmann himself said that “he’s on the ball a lot and distributes it... I would personally compare his position to an American football quarterback – like Tom Brady.”

Vogt is deserving of being compared to one of American football’s superstars on account of his impressive first season at Hoffenheim. His redeployment in the heart of defence will be needed by the club in the future. The three established centre-backs who featured throughout the season meant that TSG could adapt their game, with Vogt being the commander and corner-stone of a team which expect to overcome their qualifying games and take part in the Champions League next season. 

Destruction is out of fashion

Benjamin Hübner established himself alongside Vogt as an impressive player, developing well throughout the season. The former Ingolstadt man had always played as a defender prior to his time with Hoffenheim, but he barely featured for the side before the game against his former club changed everything. He was fielded in an eventual 2-1 win, and the aerial presence of ‘BenjAIRmin’ Hübner in both attack and defence (two headed goals, four assists) meant that he was well-praised. Dietmar Hopp winked as a he described him as his “favourite player”. The established Hoffenheim defensive expert Niklas Süle played on the outside of the three centre-backs, performing reliably as a more traditional centre-back in a four-back formation, thereby deserving the gratitude of the TSG fans, his international debut, and a contract with FC Bayern. 

Ermin Bicakcic’s lingering injuries have meant that he’s struggled getting back to 100%, but the TSG defence has contributed five goals and seven assists between them throughout what has been the most successful year in club history. Regardless of who has been playing in the back-three, each of them have taken well to Julian Nagelsmann’s tactics and philosophy, which involves the three defenders on the pitch being quick and confident on the ball. As a result, they are able to play a high line which helps them build the attack. The art of purely destructive defending is out of fashion in Hoffenheim. 

There have been more performances worthy of note aside from just Vogt and Hübner’s transformations as well as Süle and Bicakcic’s performances – Pavel Kaderabek and Jeremy Toljan have played exceptionally down the flanks as attacking wing-backs. Steven Zuber has also been adept in this role, and in total the TSG wide players contributed with five goals and eight assists. The ‘quarterback’ Vogt is the only player not to have scored or assisted so far this season, which is a shame given the extent to which he has contributed to the special brand of football that Nagelsmann’s side are playing.