Breitenreiter tempers expectations on Dolberg

At a Thursday presser, TSG 1899 Hoffenheim trainer André Breitenreiter revealed that he had engaged in an important one-on-one discussion with recently acquired Danish striker Kasper Dolberg. 

Precisely whom Hoffenheim gaffer André Breitenreiter will deploy at the lead attacker positions this weekend against 1. Union Berlin remains a mystery. The TSG trainer theoretically has previously injured returnees Munus Dabbur and Ihlas Bebou available at his disposal. Andrej Kramaric – after suffering a woeful form dip during the initial phase of the Bundesliga campaign – could also work up top.
As for the matter of whether newly-signed Danish forward Kasper Dolberg might immediately be inserted into the starting XI straightaway, Breitenreiter seemed to indicate that the 25-year-old had some way to go yet. Breitenreiter revealed the details of some individual discussions he had undertaken with the slumping striker.

“I do think that you can still clearly see that he has not played for a long time and that he needs to find his rhythm,” Breitenreiter noted, “I spoke with him during an individual session and told him that he should under no circumstances put himself under pressure.”

“His path out of this valley is crucial,” Breitenreiter continued, “It’s not expected of him that he scores a hat trick one day one. We know what he can do, even after these rough last 18 months.”

Breitenreiter’s words naturally didn’t exclude a starting place for Dolberg. The Kraichgauer head-coach has always deployed a two-striker-set since taking over the team. The lone exception came during Hoffenheim’s final test fixture against Mainz, in which Dolberg started alone up front.

More about Kasper Dolberg