Ilzer: "We have to be confident of a top performance"

Christian Ilzer on…

…the defeat against Wolfsburg: "There was great disappointment after the game. Any successful result in the current phase would be doubly helpful for us. We didn't manage to achieve that last weekend. We've had to come to terms with that. We've addressed the question of how we can turn our game into results."

…the match in Munich: "Nobody would have backed us to do anything prior to the match against Dortmund either. But we need to do things on the pitch and earn ourselves respect. We have to play a game that doesn't allow our opponents to get into their rhythm. We have to play as a cohesive unit. It will be a big challenge, but the foundation is that we have to have the confidence to put in a top performance. If you've already got Kiel on your mind, you're not the right choice for tomorrow. We have to focus fully on Bayern, regardless of how many games we have in the coming weeks."

…Bayern: "They're in great shape; they're currently the best team in Germany and it's not just their attacking play and their players that make them so dangerous. They know how to generate enormous pressure in all phases of the game."

…the game plan: "Everything we do, we have to do as one and with great conviction. We have to take the tempo out of Bayern's game; they can't get into a flow. We have to defend very well collectively and individually. But we also want to impose ourselves on the pitch and not perform in a reserved and passive manner."

…the relegation battle: "When you're in the bottom third, it's part of your job to deal with the pressure situation. You have to remain self-critical and do everything you can to contribute to the team's overall success. We have to stick to our tasks and not be distracted by external factors. We have to find ways to ensure that the players go out onto the pitch in their best condition."

…Andrej Kramarić: "We will need to relieve the pressure and have moments in attack. Andrej has a key position in that regard. If he's involved in those moments, he can be an important factor for a successful away performance."

…Tom Bischof: "It's important for Tom that this decision-making process is completed very soon. He is an easy-going player who is a pleasure to have in the squad. But you can tell that the current situation is bothering him. It's important that he shows what makes him strong on the pitch. He needs his freedom and to find spaces. That makes him very valuable for our team."

…Alexander Prass: "We had a long discussion after training on Sunday. Every player is human. I've observed him over the last few days and he has ways of dealing with it. It's important that he doesn't let it unsettle him in the game. He's regaining his confidence in training and has recovered well from the disappointment in the past few days."

…his approach to the current situation: "Part and parcel of it all is that you remain confident in yourself. As a coach, you must be the first to get back up again and lead the way. Generally speaking, I try not to see everything on a personal level. I try to do my job to the best of my ability every day."

The opposition's form:

Bayern occupy top spot in the table and won their first match of the new year. Vincent Kompany's team claimed a (1-0) victory in Mönchengladbach on Saturday.

The head-to-head record:

Like almost all Bundesliga clubs, TSG Hoffenheim have a negative head-to-head record against FC Bayern. The record champions have won 20 of the 32 meetings to date, while TSG have been victorious five times – including the last meeting on Matchday 34 of last season (4-2 scoreline).

Match facts and statistics »