After making his first starting appearance against Dortmund last time out, Hoffenheim captain Benjamin Hübner wants to take the next step in his old home country.
Sebastian Hoeneß had to smile and did some quick calculations: Then Hoffenheim’s coach assessed the likelihood of Benjamin Hübner’s second starting appearance in a row: “It’s 78 percent.” The 39-year-old had had to do without his captain for such a long time because of his complicated ankle injury, and now he is also encouraging him as a regular starter. The 32-year-old has used the Bundesliga break to get even closer to his performance limit. “He pulled through, also played the test match, which was important,” explained Hoeneß, “he is still not at 100 per cent, nevertheless the start against Dortmund was promising. “
There Hübner had again brought a lot of his physicality and forward defence to the pitch, but definitely still showed deficits when conceding two goals. “It was important for him to know that it was going straight, even against Borussia Dortmund,” Hoeneß put himself in his pro’s shoes, who had previously been without a match for a year and a half, “you’re unclear where you stand when you haven’t played a game at this level for so long. That should reassure him because he played a good part for 60 minutes. He’s getting fitter and more stable over each session. “
It all sounds like a belated happy ending
This is what Hübner, who was born on the other side of the Rhine in Wiesbaden, wants to show in Mainz right now. For the stability of TSG, the leading player was and is of enormous value, as Hoeneß confirms: “He is captain through and through, the way he performs.” Sounds all like a belated happy ending and an early extension of the contract that expires in the summer.
Hoeneß: “Kasim cannot be satisfied “
For fellow defender Kasim Adams, on the other hand, the signs continue to point to departure even after the transfer window has closed. Like Joshua Brenet, who has now moved to Enschede, the Ghanaian also has no future in Hoffenheim, but has not found the right alternative so far. Which does not necessarily mean that Adams, brought in 2018 for eight million euros from then Swiss champions Young Boys Bern, will now languish in the Hoffenheim stands until the summer. “Kasim cannot be happy with his situation, he is looking for a good solution. But it has to be right for all sides,” Hoeneß outlines the interim status, “now we wait and see, the transfer window is still open in one or two interesting countries.”
Let’s see if and what Adams finds interesting, for example a return to Switzerland is still open to the 26-year-old until 15 February, while the US market only opens on 10 February …
