Hoffenheim have adopted state-of-the-art training technology to prepare for their crucial encounter against Manchester City in the Champions League. Former Arsenal and West Ham player Havard Nordtveit has described the club’s training ground as “quite magnificent,” reflecting on Hoffenheim’s remarkable rise from the fifth division of German football to the top tier.
By the side of the main training pitch stands a giant video screen, allowing players to view footage of their upcoming opponents and tailor their training sessions accordingly. “I call it the high-tech club – we have all sorts of things,” Nordtveit remarked in an interview with the BBC. “Our training centre is quite magnificent. On pitch number one we have a big screen on which we are evaluating the other teams when we are training instead of while we are sitting in a meeting room.”
Timo Gross, the club’s video coach, added, “We want to introduce this software to give live feedback to the players. I’m excited about how other teams might use this in other scenarios. I think there are other teams who are trying to go in this direction too. [But] I don’t know of any club using the big wall yet.”
Interestingly, players have been observed engaging in a game of FIFA on the massive screen post-training. Images shared on social media showed Hoffenheim players enjoying the video game, captioned “FIFA goals 🚀.” The post was widely circulated, showcasing the club’s innovative approach to maintaining player morale and camaraderie.
Lutz Pfannenstiel, Hoffenheim’s head of international relations, demonstrated another cutting-edge feature: the Footbonaut room. This facility launches balls at players, who must then control them and pass into illuminated squares around them. According to Pfannenstiel, “It definitely increases the passing accuracy and speed. You realise more what’s happening around you.”
Hoffenheim’s use of advanced technology in their training regimens exemplifies a forward-thinking approach that other football clubs may soon emulate. As the team prepares for their high-stakes match against Manchester City, these innovative methods could provide a crucial edge.