Germany coach Joachim Löw was pleased with Badstuber’s return to action in November, and he has also been happy with his performances. “If Holger can play consistently for half a season than I will consider things. He is outstanding at starting plays and is defensively very good,” said Löw in an interview after Bayern’s win over Hamburg. But at the same time Löw warned, “You cannot set expectations too high – I don’t want to put him under pressure. His health is the important thing.” Löw is convinced that Badstuber’s history of suffering has not set him back but pushed him on. “He has come back stronger after some bad injuries. Holger is more assured in his mind than ever. Your character changes when you are put through such a development,” said Germany’s coach.
Badstuber can progress in the battle between first and second-bottom on Sunday, even though he warns, “it will be a dangerous game. Hoffenheim have their backs to the wall and have to pick up some points. But after the game against Hamburg we know where we stand and are ready for Sunday.” Badstuber himself has long felt ready for greater tasks, and now he will fill in for a teammate – and an injured one at that.
DFB.de regularly presents a Germany international player who has something special happening at the weekend. Today it is Holger Badstuber who is set to play at centre back for the record champions Bayern München against Hoffenheim on Sunday (17:30 CET).
The desire came straight from the horse’s mouth, for who, if not him, knew what had just happened to Jerome Boateng. Following his Bayern side’s 2-1 win at Hamburg in the first game after the winter break, Holger Badstuber wrote on his Facebook page: “Three important points to get us back underway. And just as important: Get well soon Jerome Boateng!”
Badstuber knows what it’s like to be injured. Since making his Bundesliga debut in August 2009, he has missed a total of 930 days and 190 matches for his team. And Badstuber knows what Boateng’s absence could mean for him: after returning to the side himself in just November, he must now fill the gap left behind by the World Champion over the coming weeks. And the first occasion will be on Sunday (17:30 CET) at home to 1899 Hoffenheim. “There are still other players there, myself included, and we have to compensate for Jerome’s absence,” said Badstuber on his club’s website. “That is not easy because he is a cornerstone of our team. But complaining does you nothing. We will continue into this game with a lot of self-confidence.”
New central-defensive partnership with Badstuber and Martinez
Javi Martinez could play alongside Holger Badstuber for the first time. The Bavarian and the Spaniard have never previously started a game together in central defence. What is certain is that Badstuber, who has 31 caps for Germany, will be the centre of attention, because the build-up play from the back, the long diagonal balls forward are not just Boateng’s strength, but also Badstuber’s.
Bayern will be able to use these. Throughout the week, coach Pep Guardiola has spent hours with his players fine-tuning tactical details. After a successful opening to the second half of the season, the long march to the 26th Bundesliga title, the farewell gift to the departing Guardiola, must not begin to stall. “We want to keep winning for Jerome,” said Badstuber. “He has contributed a lot to us being in the position we are now. He will be back towards the end of the season and I hope that he will play a few games, and particularly some high-quality games, and we have to do everything we can for that.”
Badstuber: "I’m back again!"
26-year-old Badstuber has a lot of practice in battling back and not seeing setbacks as insurmountable obstructions but as motivation. He has been forced to do so, because his body did not always want to follow him on his steep path back to the top. Badstuber made his Bundesliga debut at 20 years of age and received his first cap for Germany a year later. In that same year he represented Germany at the World Cup in South Africa. But in 2012 he suffered a cruciate ligament tear, and four months after his comeback in September 2014 he tore a tendon in his thigh.
In March of last year Badstuber returned to the national side a full 888 days after his last appearance. But one month later he was out of action again because of a thigh tear. But not to despair, because the long-suffering Badstuber was back on the pitch in November. “I’m back again! I am laughing. I am happy again. I am back with the team and I can do what I love most: play football. That’s why I’d summarise 2015 as a positive year,” said Badstuber to the newspaper Bild.
"The EUROs aren’t far off"
He has made five appearances in the Bundesliga this season and one in the Champions League. Not often enough to make a claim for a return to the national side and participate in the European Championships this summer in France – but there is still room to dream. “The EUROs aren’t far off. Of course the national team will be a topic again, but not just yet,” said Badstuber. “Admittedly all the foundations are there and I am ready, but first I would like to get a good run of games under my belt for Bayern.
Germany coach Joachim Löw was pleased with Badstuber’s return to action in November, and he has also been happy with his performances. “If Holger can play consistently for half a season than I will consider things. He is outstanding at starting plays and is defensively very good,” said Löw in an interview after Bayern’s win over Hamburg. But at the same time Löw warned, “You cannot set expectations too high – I don’t want to put him under pressure. His health is the important thing.” Löw is convinced that Badstuber’s history of suffering has not set him back but pushed him on. “He has come back stronger after some bad injuries. Holger is more assured in his mind than ever. Your character changes when you are put through such a development,” said Germany’s coach.
Badstuber can progress in the battle between first and second-bottom on Sunday, even though he warns, “it will be a dangerous game. Hoffenheim have their backs to the wall and have to pick up some points. But after the game against Hamburg we know where we stand and are ready for Sunday.” Badstuber himself has long felt ready for greater tasks, and now he will fill in for a teammate – and an injured one at that.
