Matarazzo defensive in response to stalling form: “We’ve come through it every time!”

TSG 1899 Hoffenheim trainer Pellegrino Matarazzo found himself losing patience when asked about the forthcoming league fixture against Augsburg this coming Sunday.

A 2-2 draw against Olympique Lyon in the Europa League last night may have demonstrated the ability of Pellegrino Matarazzo’s TSG 1899 Hoffenheim to fight hard and claw back a draw, but the club’s status in the Bundesliga table remains a cause for concern. Matarazzo’s Kraichgauer – having grabbed just two wins through nine rounds of the campaign- currently sit in the relegation playoff place. 

Thus far, Hoffenheim have only managed league wins against bottom dwellers Holstein Kiel and VfL Bochum. A much-needed three points in last week’s league fixture against newly-promoted FC St. Pauli did not materialize. Whilst conducting a post-match interview last night, the American trainer (not for the first time during this tumultuous season) found himself on the defensive. 

“Just stop it with this question!” Matarazzo barked when asked whether the forthcoming league fixture against Augsburg counted as a “Finalé”, “Please stop asking this question! How many times has it been the most important game ever? How many times has it been a ‘decisive’ game? How many times has it been a key fixture?” 

“And how many times have we come through it?” Matarazzo continued at the end of his rhetorical rant, “Every time! I have shown on several occasions that I am able to build a team to get us out of critical situations. This Bundesliga game is significant in that we need three points. Nothing more.”

“There is absolutely no question that I am confident that we will achieve our goals,” Matarazzo concluded, “That we will at least achieve a stable mid-table position [this season].”