Forward movement the focus of intensive session

One of the exercises: After a diagonal pass, the attackers should get a shot away as quickly as possible, whilst under pressure from the back four. As Sebastian Rudy fed the ball through for Kai Herdling, who was in the box, central defender David Abraham jostled just enough to deny him the chance to shoot. Herdling went to ground, Abraham cleared the ball from the danger zone and Markus Gisdol said succinctly: “Yellow card. That was a dive.” Those watching on burst out with laughter.

Training didn't go to plan for Sejad Salihovic. The longest serving Hoffenheim player stayed on the ground during the exercise and had to leave the session.

Before the attacking exercises took place, the fitness coaches Nicklas Dietrich and Otmar Rösch took charge. At three different stations they pestered the players. Increased runs with weights, side steps with a Thera-Band in place and jumps were all part of the programme.

Here a few statistics from Monday afternoon's session:

30 balls, 32 cones, four goals, 12 poles, seven red and four yellow bibs as well as three goals came into play during the session.