Schreuder: "We need to project a sense of calm"

Alfred Schreuder on…

…the personnel situation:

"Sargis Adamyan is a major doubt. As far as Ihlas Bebou and Andrej Kramarić are concerned, we need to see what kind of impression they make in training. Dennis Geiger is not yet fully fit, but Håvard Nordtveit is back again. Steven Zuber and Ishak Belfodil are still injured."

…another meeting with Achim Beierlorzer, the new Mainz coach and the former Cologne boss:

"I've never seen this happen before and it's obviously a curious situation. But one shouldn't get too hung up on it. Achim Beierlorzer received the offer, why should he turn it down? I think it's brave what he's doing."

…on possibly setting a club record of six consecutive Bundesliga victories:

"It's obviously interesting to be in with a chance of setting a new club record. But we don't need any additional motivation. The previous games don't count for anything against Mainz. That's just for the history books. Yes it's nice, but the most important question for us is: why were we successful in our last match? We need to replicate that; ultimately, winning is what matters on Sunday."

…the situation at 1. FSV Mainz 05:

"I've taken a look at their recent matches. The results haven't been good, but they've always had some good spells in their games – even in the 8-0 loss in Leipzig. Mainz have good players and Achim Beierlorzer will try to make some changes. Obviously, them having a new coach makes our preparations more complicated. We've won six matches now; our opponents are setting themselves up slightly different against us or, as was recently the case in Cologne, are playing in different formations. We can expect more of the same. We need to see the match as a huge challenge, be highly flexible and react to everything accordingly during the game. Perhaps they'll be very aggressive, perhaps they'll go all out. But we musn't make too much of that; we need to focus on our own game: we know what we want to do when we have the ball and when we don't have it. We need to project a sense of calm."

…a reunion with Ádám Szalai:

"I know him very well. Ádám has a real winning mentality and is a superb team player who always sets an example and is extremely motivated in training. A big character who is held in high regard here at TSG. We're all looking forward to seeing Ádám again. And I personally am delighted for him that he's playing regularly."

The social media fan question of the week:

Do you find it difficult to choose the players for the starting XI and the bench?

"On a human level, the decision is always difficult. You have 24 outfield players and three goalkeepers in the squad – and you obviously want to let them all play. But as a coach it's not so difficult because it's part of the job. You want to win and you name the players who you believe will give you the best chance of doing so. It's always a case of deciding for a player, rather than against another."

The opposition's form:

The first third of the campaign has been disappointing for 1. FSV Mainz, who have taken nine points from their first 11 matches and sit in 16th position – the relegation play-off place. Their trip to Sinsheim is supposed to be a new start, though, with Achim Beierlorzer in the dugout for the first time since replacing Sandro Schwarz as Mainz boss. What's curious is that Beierlorzer also coached the last team Hoffenheim faced, 1. FC Cologne, but was sacked after losing that match 2-1. On Sunday, he will come up against them again – far sooner than anyone expected.

Head-to-head record:

The two clubs have faced off in the Bundesliga on 20 previous occasions, with Hoffenheim recording six victories and the 05ers winning eight times. TSG missed out on Europa League qualification on Matchday 34 last season after losing 4-2 to Mainz in a game in which they led 2-0 at one stage. But that blip aside, their recent record – especially in Sinsheim – has been almost perfect: Hoffenheim have taken 13 out of a possible 15 points from their last five home games against Mainz, the only exception being a 1-1 draw last term.

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