Bundesliga

Hildebrand Just Hoping To Play At Hoffenheim

Timo Hildebrand is happy as heck that his time at Valencia is now a thing of the past...

Dec 11, 2008 6:05:25 AM

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Timo Hildebrand - Valencia (Goal.com)

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Timo Hildebrand has let it be known that he didn't just sign for Hoffenheim to make up the numbers.

The 29-year-old is coming off a nightmare spell at Valencia lately but since shortly after joining them from VfB Stuttgart in 2007. The fringe German international was seen as a long-term replacement for Santiago Cañizares, but new coach Unai Emery clearly didn't fancy him didn't even include him in his squad on most occasions.

"I just want to get playing again," said Hildebrand, who has joined high-flying Hoffenheim on a non-disclosed fee.

"The important thing is that I now feel wanted and to play again. That was not the case recently in Valencia."

Ralf Rangnick has not guaranteed Hildebrand the starting gloves in Mannheim, but obviously holds him in high esteem.

"Timo is the kind of goalkeeper who plays exactly how I like it," enthused the Hoffenheim boss..

"I do not know another goalkeeper in Germany who is a better footballer than he is."

"We want to get Timo back into the form he was in when he moved to Spain in the summer of 2007 as quickly as possible," he concluded.

Derek Wanner, Goal.com