Jonas Hofmann talks in interview about his impressions of the Foals winter preparation up until now, his New Years resolutions and the Darts World Cup.
Jonas, firstly just to say that it’s great to have you back. Did you have a nice Christmas?
Jonas Hofmann: Yes, definitely. I celebrated Christmas in the classic way, was at home with my family and we ate raclette – so probably like a lot of other people as well.
You have already trained with the team again a few times after your return from the national team. Such a long period of preparation in the winter is not really that common. What have your impressions of it been?
Hofmann: It is definitely pretty hard! We were off work immediately after the last Bundesliga game this year and because of that we don’t have a longer break from training again now. I feel that it is also a positive though, because we have a longer preparation period and maybe at the end will be more full of juice than other teams. The coach is demanding a lot from us physically. Over New Year it is then about collecting yourself a bit and then from January working on the details.
There are still around three and a half weeks until the re-start of the Bundesliga and the home game against Bayer Leverkusen. How big is the anticipation for it to all get going again in January?
Hofmann: Because we are still in between Christmas and New Year it still really feels like it is quite a long way off. But I think at the latest when we start training again in the New Year then the anticipation will be huge. We are in a position in the table where we can maybe pull away from the pack a bit and move a few places up the table.
Borussia are eighth in the Bundesliga table at the moment. With ten goal contributions (five goals, five assists), you are only behind Marcus Thuram (ten goals, three assists) as the player with the most goal contributions in the team at the moment. Have you already made any New Years resolutions?
Hofmann: I would like to score a similar number of goals as 2022, and maybe get an assist more here and there. But you will have to see how it goes. Regardless, it is important that we are successful as a team. If needs be I would give up all my goal contributions for that.
What are your goals as a team for the second half of the season?
Hofmann: First and foremost, it will be important to get off to a good start. Bayer Leverkusen are a team that headed into the winter break in very good form. We have to be well prepared. We also want to try and stay in and around the conversation at the top and move up a place or two.
To finish up with another sport: Besides football, you love darts. How have you been following the World Cup in London at the moment?
Hofmann: Up until Christmas, I didn’t watch that much TV. But ever since Gabriel Clemens’ game on Tuesday evening, I’ve been totally hooked again (laughing). When the round of 16 starts, I’ll definitely try and watch a lot of matches again. The German fans created an incredible atmosphere at Ally Pally yesterday. I would love to be there myself – it’s definitely something on my bucket list.Gabriel Clemens, a German, has already reached the round of 16. Martin Schindler can join him if he wins his match against Michael Smith. How much are you rooting for these guys?
Hofmann: I already noticed that my heart was pounding that bit faster yesterday. When Gabriel Clemens threw that final dart to hit the double, I definitely screamed. Of course, you root for your countrymen and your heart beats a little faster – especially when you have such an affinity for the sport.
