Bischof: "I still have big ambitions with TSG"

It was the 77th minute of the match at Berlin's Olympiastadion on 19 March when Tom Bischof first appeared on the big stage. The TSG player came on to replace his friend Georginio Rutter and make his Bundesliga debut. "Despite losing to Hertha BSC, it was a very special moment – in part because I've been associated with the club for so long. When I came onto the pitch, it was a dream come true for me," said the midfielder.

His appearance that day saw Bischof, who has been with TSG since 2011, become Hoffenheim's youngest-ever Bundesliga player. But for the 16-year-old, it was only the beginning: "It's a nice storyline that I'm the youngest TSG player. But what comes after that is much more important. I want to establish myself in the Bundesliga and play many more games for Hoffenheim. I still have big ambitions with TSG."

The Amorbach native has been training with the TSG first team since the summer of 2021. The Germany U17 international first needed to get used to the pace – and was given a number of tips by his experienced team-mates. "I had to learn that I already need to know what I'm going to do next before the ball even reaches me. At this level, I actually have a maximum of two touches in central midfield; otherwise, the ball is lost. The tempo cannot be compared to youth football. I'm definitely still lagging behind in physical terms, but Sebastian Rudy for example has made it clear to me that I don't even need to enter into a challenge when I have the ball at my feet if I already know what I wanted to do," said Bischof.

In January, the midfielder extended his contract with TSG until the summer of 2025 – despite interest from many big clubs. "You hear about that, of course. That makes me all the happier that everything has now been settled. I feel very comfortable at the club and in the team. That has played a big role. Now I'm delighted that I can focus fully on sporting matters and that there's no background noise for the time being."

Also in the May issue of SPIELFELD magazine, Håvard Nordtveit gives a big interview prior to his departure from TSG Hoffenheim about his career and his remaining objectives with TSG, and openly cites aspects of professional football that he perceives to be complicated.