Beck facing up to relegation

Hoffenheim captain Andreas Beck has conceded that the club face an uphill battle to avoid relegation from the Bundesliga this season.

Marco Kurtz’s side are four points from the relegation play-off position in 17th place, and although Beck has urged his team-mates to rally for the final stretch of the season, he admitted the club’s five-year stay in the Bundesliga is likely to come to an end.

“It is a very difficult situation,” he told Goal.com. “Already, many have written us off.

“This is not a good position for the final sprint, but it’s doable.”

With just one win in six games, the form book suggests Hoffenheim face an insurmountable task, and Beck believes the dire nature of their predicament has only just hit the squad.

“I believe that we have just realised the situation we find ourselves in,” he said. “We have to pull together and each individual must sacrifice himself.

“We are fighting for the league, that must be in our consciousness. Much has been said about the ‘giant quality’ of the team. At the end of the day you have to admit that there is a possibility that we might not be here next season.”