17.02.2010

Frontzeck issues Hoffenheim warning

Some 3,500 fans will accompany Borussia to Sinsheim on Friday evening for the clash with 1899 Hoffenheim. And at today's press conference head coach Michael Frontzeck warned them that Hoffenheim would provide tough opposition.

In recent days much of the talk about Borussia's attack has focused on Frontzeck having a luxury problem and on the famed role of supersub. The reason? Roberto Colautti and Raul Bobadilla have started the last few games up front, but in the home game against Nürnberg Rob Friend and Karim Matmour came on as substitutes - and combined almost immediately to produce the winning goal in a 2-1 victory.

"Neither Karim nor Rob are supersubs as they have both started lots of games for us," said Frontzeck, who will delay a decision on his strike pairing against Hoffenheim until just before kick-off. "I'm glad we've got several options there," the Borussia boss said before revealing: "Up front I prefer to have a player who can hold the ball up and a quick one who can play off him." Such as Colautti and Bobadilla. Or Friend and Matmour. Or maybe even Bobadilla and Friend? Or Colautti and Matmour? "As I said, you'll have the answer to that question just before the game," said Frontzeck, who has Tobias Levels at his disposal again on Friday evening. Unlike Thorben Marx. Borussia's number 14 has a thigh strain and remains on the sidelines along with long-term casualties Jan-Ingwer Callsen-Bracker (foot tendonitis) and Christian Dorda (ruptured patellar tendon).

Frontzeck is not devoting much thought to the reverse fixture in preparation for Friday evening's game. "From the 60th minute Hoffenheim risked everything going forward and we were unable to mount a threat of our own right up to the final whistle," he said. And thus ended the discussion of matchday six. Now, on matchday 23, Borussia travel in confident mood to Hoffenheim, with whom they are level on points, after some good performances in recent weeks.