Usami criticises his Hoffenheim team-mates after shock Pokal exit

Aug 19, 2012 12:29:00 PM

In his first club appearance since the Olympics, the 20-year-old was unable to reverse his club's fortunes as they fell to a fourth-division club in the Pokal's opening round

Hoffenheim attacker Takashi Usami was aghast on Saturday at his team's performance after they were eliminated from the DFB Pokal with a 4-0 loss at Berliner AK 07.

The Japan Under-23 international came on after half-time with Hoffenheim already trailing 3-0 in his first official appearance since the 2012 London Olympics. He failed to score, while BAK's Metin Cakmak scored his second goal of the match to lock up the result for the underdogs.

"We couldn't have done any worse," Usami said after the match. "Nobody showed any awareness. It was pathetic. we lost the ball in easy spots, and after we lost the ball we couldn't switch over to defence.

"All the back line did when a player broke through was wave for an offside call and not chase [the ball-carrier] down."

The 45-minute appearance was an ominous debut for the 20-year-old, who hopes to earn a starting role at his new club after spending most of last season playing for the Bayern reserves.

"At 3-0 we didn't have much of a chance to begin with," Usami continued, "And then through our mistakes we let in a fourth goal ... that goal really shook us.

"We absolutely have to start over and rebuild. All of us, myself included, need to remember the responsibility that comes with being professional footballers."

Hoffenheim will hope for a return to form when they open their Bundesliga campaign away at Borussia MG on August 25.

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