Every now and then, DFB.de like to get the thoughts of a player from our senior team who is facing an unusual challenge at the weekend. Today it’s the turn of Kevin Volland, whose Hoffenheim 1899 side face off against champions Bayern on Saturday.
Admittedly, Kevin Volland has spurned two opportunities in the recent past to make some headlines regarding his number of Bundesliga appearances. On matchday 34 last season, against Hertha BSC, Volland played his 99th match in the top division - reaching that specific milestone for a club founded in 1899, he had the chance to write a fairly good story. Similarly, he played his 100th game last week at Leverkusen, but even though he didn’t find the net, it’s still an achievement worth mentioning for a player only 23 years old.
His next match, this weekend against Bayern, also has a certain significance for Volland. Again, this is because of the number - 101 is a figure like no other. The birth of an heir to the throne is met with a 101-gun salute, and the number 101 also has a positive connotation for Dalmatians. However, precisely the opposite is true for readers of George Orwell’s 1984, for whom Room 101 is synonymous with their worst fears. In any case, 101 is the only number that can claim to fall halfway between 100 and 102.
From footballer to travel agent for games against Bayern
All absurd associations aside, the match this weekend is unlike any other for Volland. The fact that it’s against Bayern makes it one of the season’s highlights for Hoffenheim, and above all for Volland himself. After all, the Germany international hails from the Allgäu and began his senior career at Bayern’s local rivals 1860 München - he still has blue blood in his veins.
For the entire Volland family, matches against Germany’s most successful side are among the most important events of the year. In the run-up to the game, Kevin Volland transforms from footballer to travel agent - he explained to Bild how it usually goes: “For the past few years, I’ve organised a bus for fans and friends. This time there are ten to fifteen people coming - my parents, my sister, my aunt, the whole family.”
Shaky start to the season in league and cup
The game against Bayern is also a chance to forget about a less than convincing start to the season. In the DFB Cup, Hoffenheim went out in the first round against 1860 München, which was particularly disappointing for Volland, whilst in the Bundesliga, his Hoffenheim side went down 2-1 away at Leverkusen. There was a lot to take away from the game against Bayer, some of it positive. Above all for Volland, “That we played very good football for 40 minutes.”
However, as everyone knows, a football match is not just 40 minutes long, as Volland admitted in an interview with TSG Hoffenheim’s website. “In the Bundesliga, that isn’t really enough. We need to deliver for the full 90 minutes.” Volland's conclusion is simple - his Hoffenheim side are willing to work very hard, so it’s not a case of lacking stamina. “There were a few too many mistakes. Too often when we were going forward, the final ball was missing.”
"I’m not 100% fit yet"
Volland is 23 years old, but has already had a long career despite his young age. His three caps with the Germany national team have contributed greatly to his experience, as well as his time spent with Die Mannschaft in Südtirol. The striker has come a very long way in a very short time – and he has never shied away from taking responsibility. He captained the Germany U21 national side at this summer’s European Championship in the Czech Republic, whilst he also plays a key role at club level with TSG. Volland showed this great level of responsibility by putting himself in the spotlight after Hoffenheim’s poor start to the season: "They weren’t my best games. I’m not 100% fit yet, and I’m aware of that."
His experience has taught him to maintain faith in his own abilities, and not to panic after one or two poor performances – especially as he has good reason for his dip in form. "I’m not going to beat myself up. I’m still giving my all in training, and soon I’ll reach the level I want to. I had a really short and interrupted pre-season after the U21 European Championship, and I’m still feeling the effects of that, but I’m noticing a difference after every training session – my freshness is coming back," the striker told Hoffenheim’s official club website.
Volland is close to hitting top form again – and what a time to do it at too, with a clash with FC Bayern München just around the corner. The young striker knows the size of the task ahead of him, but there’s no chance that he’ll be giving in before a ball is even kicked. "Bayern are one of the best teams in Europe," admitted Volland – but the Germany U21 international is still hoping for a victory in his 101st Bundesliga game. "Best case scenario, we’ll cause an upset – but that will be very, very difficult, as it always is against Bayern. It will have to be our lucky day for us to get something out of the game."
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Every now and then, DFB.de like to get the thoughts of a player from our senior team who is facing an unusual challenge at the weekend. Today it’s the turn of Kevin Volland, whose Hoffenheim 1899 side face off against champions Bayern on Saturday.
Admittedly, Kevin Volland has spurned two opportunities in the recent past to make some headlines regarding his number of Bundesliga appearances. On matchday 34 last season, against Hertha BSC, Volland played his 99th match in the top division - reaching that specific milestone for a club founded in 1899, he had the chance to write a fairly good story. Similarly, he played his 100th game last week at Leverkusen, but even though he didn’t find the net, it’s still an achievement worth mentioning for a player only 23 years old.
His next match, this weekend against Bayern, also has a certain significance for Volland. Again, this is because of the number - 101 is a figure like no other. The birth of an heir to the throne is met with a 101-gun salute, and the number 101 also has a positive connotation for Dalmatians. However, precisely the opposite is true for readers of George Orwell’s 1984, for whom Room 101 is synonymous with their worst fears. In any case, 101 is the only number that can claim to fall halfway between 100 and 102.
From footballer to travel agent for games against Bayern
All absurd associations aside, the match this weekend is unlike any other for Volland. The fact that it’s against Bayern makes it one of the season’s highlights for Hoffenheim, and above all for Volland himself. After all, the Germany international hails from the Allgäu and began his senior career at Bayern’s local rivals 1860 München - he still has blue blood in his veins.
For the entire Volland family, matches against Germany’s most successful side are among the most important events of the year. In the run-up to the game, Kevin Volland transforms from footballer to travel agent - he explained to Bild how it usually goes: “For the past few years, I’ve organised a bus for fans and friends. This time there are ten to fifteen people coming - my parents, my sister, my aunt, the whole family.”
Shaky start to the season in league and cup
The game against Bayern is also a chance to forget about a less than convincing start to the season. In the DFB Cup, Hoffenheim went out in the first round against 1860 München, which was particularly disappointing for Volland, whilst in the Bundesliga, his Hoffenheim side went down 2-1 away at Leverkusen. There was a lot to take away from the game against Bayer, some of it positive. Above all for Volland, “That we played very good football for 40 minutes.”
However, as everyone knows, a football match is not just 40 minutes long, as Volland admitted in an interview with TSG Hoffenheim’s website. “In the Bundesliga, that isn’t really enough. We need to deliver for the full 90 minutes.” Volland's conclusion is simple - his Hoffenheim side are willing to work very hard, so it’s not a case of lacking stamina. “There were a few too many mistakes. Too often when we were going forward, the final ball was missing.”
"I’m not 100% fit yet"
Volland is 23 years old, but has already had a long career despite his young age. His three caps with the Germany national team have contributed greatly to his experience, as well as his time spent with Die Mannschaft in Südtirol. The striker has come a very long way in a very short time – and he has never shied away from taking responsibility. He captained the Germany U21 national side at this summer’s European Championship in the Czech Republic, whilst he also plays a key role at club level with TSG. Volland showed this great level of responsibility by putting himself in the spotlight after Hoffenheim’s poor start to the season: "They weren’t my best games. I’m not 100% fit yet, and I’m aware of that."
His experience has taught him to maintain faith in his own abilities, and not to panic after one or two poor performances – especially as he has good reason for his dip in form. "I’m not going to beat myself up. I’m still giving my all in training, and soon I’ll reach the level I want to. I had a really short and interrupted pre-season after the U21 European Championship, and I’m still feeling the effects of that, but I’m noticing a difference after every training session – my freshness is coming back," the striker told Hoffenheim’s official club website.
Volland is close to hitting top form again – and what a time to do it at too, with a clash with FC Bayern München just around the corner. The young striker knows the size of the task ahead of him, but there’s no chance that he’ll be giving in before a ball is even kicked. "Bayern are one of the best teams in Europe," admitted Volland – but the Germany U21 international is still hoping for a victory in his 101st Bundesliga game. "Best case scenario, we’ll cause an upset – but that will be very, very difficult, as it always is against Bayern. It will have to be our lucky day for us to get something out of the game."
