Hofmann: "We want to establish ourselves near the top."

Jonas, you're in a great form right now, scoring in two games in a row. In the whole calendar year 2019, you did not score at all. How can that be?

"I read that about the torrid 2019. It surprised me too. (Laughs) And the lads in the dressing room are already demanding more goals from me. I hope I can keep up the pace. But as everyone knows, football does not always turn out the way you want."

Does it have something to do with a slight change in your role on the pitch?

"I think so. Until now, I've played mainly as a defensive or central midfielder. When you are allowed to be more offensive, you can see straight away that you are more likely to get into dangerous areas and be involved in attacks. This gives you more chances to score. It's almost natural that you'll be in the right place and the ball creeps in." (Laughs)

After two-thirds of the season, you are doing brilliantly, in fourth, only four points behind league leaders Bayern and you even have a game in hand against 1. FC Cologne. What else can Borussia Mönchengladbach manage this season?

"We have heard that question a lot lately. (Grinning) But it's a nice question to be asked. It's a comfortable situation. In general, a lot is possible, there's no need to mince our words. But what matters is knowing that you make the biggest mistakes when you are successful. We should not let that happen to us. We think from game to game. That sounds stupid, I know, but that's how we really do it. We are doing really well and we will see what comes out of it after 34 games. But the plan is that we want to establish ourselves, and get involved in that group at the top."

Could challenging the other top clubs around Europe perhaps be on the cards too?

"We would have liked to have continued to play in the Europa League. Going out against Istanbul Başakşehir in December was quite a bitter pill to swallow. But nevertheless, you have to make the most of it – and perhaps it is now a small advantage that we are the only team in the top group that no longer has to fight on multiple fronts. But the other clubs actually have the squad to do so and should be used to the workload.

On Saturday, Hoffenheim, whom you played with as a youngster, will come to Gladbach. As a native of Heidelberg, you have a special relationship with TSG and the region.

"Yes, absolutely. My family still lives there and I still have many friends from my youth there. And you always look forward to seeing a familiar face or two at your old club before the games. There are fewer now of course, as I have been gone for so many years (since 2011 – editor's note). But I still have a few names and phone numbers of old friends saved. I am still in contact with Mr. Hopp today, for example. Sometimes we write to each other or even make phone calls – I'm very happy about that."

And what do you expect from TSG on the pitch on Saturday?

"The battles with TSG have always been tightly contested and there are normally a lot of goals. Although we won the first game comfortably on paper with a 3-0 score, it was much tighter than the scoreline suggests – and TSG have certainly gotten better since the first game – they are now much closer. This will be a completely different game now. I think the spectators can look forward to a good game."

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