Mark Uth: “I shoot when I get the chance”

On Tuesday you had to take it easy in training. What can you tell us about your thigh injury?

Mark Uth: I got a knock in the game against Stuttgart and got some painful bruising, but I have to carry on. It can’t get any worse so I am back training with the team. It shouldn’t be a problem for Saturday.

Flashback – what went wrong in Stuttgart?

Uth: A few things. They began up front and then trickled down through the rest of the team. We didn’t start very well, press them hard enough or back one another up. We worked on all of these things on Sunday and have to learn from our mistakes. On the other hand, Stuttgart played a good game and countered well, meaning the game ended in a 5-1 loss for us. We imagined it would go totally different.

Wolfsburg will be travelling to Sinsheim this weekend. What are your expectations ahead of the game?

Uth: I expect a reaction from us, because performances like the one against Stuttgart aren’t good enough. We have to make things right and we will want to do that. It is important to get more points on the board. In the Bundesliga anyone can beat anyone else, so we can win this game if we execute our plans well.

Is it an advantage for you that the Wolves had to play in the Champions League on Tuesday evening?

Uth: Champions League games are obviously always tough and they have less time to recover, but the Wolfsburg squad is big enough to cope. Because they have just reached the quarterfinals it will give them a mental boost. I hope we can take advantage of the Wolfsburg player’s fatigue. It could possibly be a slight advantage for us.

You’re searching for your third win at home on the bounce. Does that mean anything for the table and for the team’s mentality?

Uth: Every point is important for us. We really wanted these home wins. The TSG-fans supported us wonderfully against Mainz and Augburg and we want to give something back. I hope that we can lift the fans a little bit as well on Saturday. In the fight against relegation we will need to use our home advantage and collect points.

Since Julian Nagelsmann took over as head coach things have been going better for Hoffenheim. What has he done for you personally?

Uth: He’s given me confidence, told me that I have to be courageous and that I am allowed to make mistakes and take risks. I’m playing more freely and with more confidence. He gave me a chance against Mainz and I scored twice and from that my confidence grew. I am not thinking so much anymore, instead I am doing things simply. Only people who shoot will score. I just shoot when I get the opportunity.

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