Compper: ''We'll have to play out of our skins''

Marvin, you spent five years as a TSG player. Are you looking forward to being reunited with your old club on Tuesday?

''The excitement is huge. I had a great time in Hoffenheim. 2008 was probably by best ever year as a player. I think we picked up about 80 points across the two seasons in that calendar year. We got promoted and then led the Bundesliga going into the winter break. It was an amazing time back then.''

Are you still in touch with former teammates or members of staff at the club? 

''I sometimes write to the physiotherapist Peter Geigle. I think Sebastian Rudy is the only one of my former teammates left at the club. I will always have a close connection to TSG.''

You were forced to sit out last weekend due to an injury. How are you feeling now? 

''I'm making progress and I'm back in team training. It looks like there's a good chance that I'll be able to play on Tuesday.''

TSG are the big favourites on Tuesday. How would you rate your chances? 

''It's a cup game. There's no doubt that a lot of things will have to go in our favour if we're to have a shot at winning. But under the floodlights, with the home crowd behind us, you never know what can happen. We'll also have to hope TSG don't hit the same level they did in the wins against Bayern Munich and Schalke. We're going to do everything we can to be ready for the match. But at the end of the day, we're a third-tier outfit going up against an ambitious Bundesliga side.''

You mentioned the home crowd. How big a factor do you think that will be?

''It will be huge. I think upsets of that magnitude are only really possible when playing at home. We'll obviously be in our usual stomping ground and we're determined to harness the energy of our fans to make it as difficult as possible for TSG. When I played in Scotland, lower-ranked clubs didn't get home advantage in the draw, so overall there were less upsets.''

After relegation last season, MSV are currently battling for promotion from the third tier. Is an immediate return to the 2. Bundesliga your stated objective or are you just focused on taking each game as it comes?

''The team needs time to develop. We had 16 new arrivals in the summer, so I don't think we should be talking about going straight back up. We first have to develop more consistency in our play.''

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