Germany: Bundesliga
FT
0 - 1
(0 - 0)
Hoffenheim
Union Berlin
S. Nsoki (45)
K. Volland (45), B. Aaronson (84)
By Rune Gjerulff@runegjerulff

Rosen backs Matarazzo after another poor Hoffenheim result

Alexander Rosen has played down Hoffenheim's results crisis and backed head coach Pellegrino Matarazzo to improve the situation.
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Hoffenheim saw their winless streak extend to eight games with a disappointing 0-1 defeat to Union Berlin on Saturday afternoon.

After an impressive start to the season, the Sinsheim side have won just one of their last 13 games and have slipped to ninth place, leading to questions being asked about head coach Pellegrino Matarazzo.

However, based on what Hoffenheim's managing director for sport, Alexander Rosen, said after Saturday's defeat, it doesn't look like Matarazzo is in danger of losing his job at this point.

"We are not known for overheating and making decisions overnight with our heads spinning. Rino' has proven often enough, in Stuttgart and with us, that he is storm-proof, that he can withstand such things," Rosen told Kicker.

"Of course it's about results, but I'm a big fan of looking at the team as well as how the crowd reacts. The atmosphere today was fantastic.

"We are in ninth place, have nothing to do with the bottom and would still be within striking distance of sixth and seventh.

"We had a great start to the season, but we haven't been able to convert our good to excellent performances and numerous opportunities into victories for some time now. That's a big problem. But it's not because of the fundamentals or a lack of desire."

Hoffenheim now face a tough run of fixtures, with Borussia Dortmund, VfB Stuttgart and Bayer Leverkusen all coming up in the next five games.
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