Philipp to Start in Goal for Hoffenheim Against Aue Instead of Baumann

Luca Philipp will be in goal for TSG 1899 Hoffenheim in the DFB Cup match against Erzgebirge Aue. Hoffenheim coach Christian Ilzer announced this ahead of Saturday’s first-round away match against the Regionalliga side (3:30 p.m./Sky).

Philipp has “earned it over all this time,” Ilzer said. “That was also agreed upon with the entire goalkeeping staff and the goalkeeper coach.” A week later, in the Bundesliga opener against 1. FC Köln, captain and national team goalkeeper Oliver Baumann is expected to be back in goal for the Kraichgau-based club.

Opponent’s league “not that decisive” for Ilzer

First, however, TSG hopes to get the job done against the fourth-division team from Saxony with Philipp, who has played for Hoffenheim since his youth. “I don’t think it matters that much in the cup which league the opponent is in. You simply have to earn your way through the game to advance to the next round,” Ilzer explained, adding: “That is clearly our goal. We respect every opponent; we’ve also studied Aue in detail and analyzed them, but our focus is clearly on ourselves.”

Asllani Not Yet in the Roster Against Aue

Attacking player Fisnik Asllani will not be in the roster against Aue; his transfer to RB Leipzig fell through two weeks ago due to medical concerns. “He’s doing well. He’s absolutely part of our team. He feels that, and he shows it in every practice, every day,” said Ilzer.

However, Asllani is still in rehabilitation training. Mentally, he has “processed everything well for himself,” according to the Austrian. “He’s simply showing that he’s already mature enough in that area, that he understands the soccer business well enough.”