Now that Kevin Vogt’s transfer to 1. FC Union has been finalized before the restart, Pellegrino Matarazzo is facing a problem. The coach has to rebuild TSG Hoffenheim’s already shaky defense
The Kraichgauers’ Achilles’ heel is well known, as was once again evident in the first half of the season. The focus is now once again on the half-back position in the back three in particular, as Vogt was more or less forced to fill it (very well). Sports director Alexander Rosen had invested heavily in remedying the problem in precisely that position in both the summer of 2022 and 2023. First for Stanley Nsoki, who has not yet been able to make a lasting impression. Then for Attila Szalai. But four Bundesliga appearances to date are not enough for the Hungarian. Both for the record transfer fee of 12.3 million euros to Fenerbahce and for a player of the left-footer’s stature. After all, he is no longer a talent, but at the age of 25 is in his prime.
Matarazzo recently emphasized that “Attila has his strengths” and that Szalai is “a great guy, he brings a positive energy to the team”. But he is also a professional who “can develop like any other player. Where he can perhaps supplement what he’s not so good at or hide weaknesses,” mused the coach, without naming specific problem areas.
The most obvious one with Szalai: a lack of pace. Which wouldn’t be a drama in itself. Tough tacklers in particular – and the 1.92-meter man is one of them, which is a positive in his balance – are not known to be the fastest. But alongside the equally comparatively slow John Anthony Brooks, a constellation with Szalai becomes a problem. Both have to drop too much when Hoffenheim’s line of three wants to stand tall in order to avoid being outsprinted. Which in turn gives opponents the space to process balls and turn on the ball. This is probably one of the reasons why Matarazzo opted for the quick Vogt on the half-left
The coach now faces an important decision ahead of this Friday’s visit to FC Bayern. Will he leave Brooks in the center and give Szalai another chance in his traditional position? Or even Nsoki? Or will Matarazzo rebuild and move Florian Grillitsch into the center of the back three, who was recently displaced from the six by Anton Stach? Given his strategic and playmaking abilities, it would be good to have the Austrian on the pitch. On the other hand, uncompromising defending is more important in Munich. Not the strength of the trained midfielder.
At least TSG have enough central defenders in their squad in Kevin Akpoguma and Kasim Adams, alongside Ozan Kabak, Brooks and Szalai at right-back
