Hofmann on; fantasy football and his first season in Dortmund.
"Yes [laughs]. I know that Mats (Hummels) also had me, perhaps because he probably expected a bit more from me. It was actually quite good for my first year. It's not so much that I barely played. For me, the first year was a great experience and very educational. I think that, in your fantasy football manager game, you can expect more from me this year."
Hofmann on; pre-season.
"So far, it definitely looks no worse than last year. Some are injured, some are still on holiday - it was clear for us who remained, that we would play more in pre-season and that we are more in focus, because the coach has a smaller group that he can oversee better. So far everything has went perfectly and I hope that I stay injury costless until the end."
Hofmann on; how hard is it for young players to get into the BVB team.
Hofmann: Simple, it certainly has become harder. Over time, the club has higher and higher standards, thereby not making it any easier for young players. But for me is still the intention to make the step. I think that every single young player must ask himself whether he trusts themself to make it here or not. And I believe in myself in any case.
Hofmann on; increasing playing time.
Clearly I want to increase my playing time and play more games from the start. Although I've just said: For my first Bundesliga year, and also at Borussia Dortmund, it is remarkable to have so many matches. It should keep everyone content.
Hofmann on; his form in the first and second half of the season.
Hofmann: Maybe at the beginning, when I was new, I could play a bit more costlessly and it was a little easier for me. I do not know exactly why my form was not so good towards the end; it probably happened because I subconsciously expected too much. The plan was different. [laughs]
Hofmann on; putting himself under pressure.
Hofmann: Yes, I did. But as well as things went in the beginning, it can work but not always. Maybe in the Hinrunde I was a bit quiet and did not think: Now go in there and show everything that you can. But: Stay calm, find yourself in the game first.
Hofmann on; BVB's attacking signings.
Hofmann: Ciro speaks, to date only Italian; I heard today at the dinner table that he has already learned a few words of German. Ji can speak English, he actually understands everything, it works quite well. And Adrian Ramos is very, very quiet and nice. All three are still a little shy, but that's completely normal. Despite that, they get on well and we try to hard integrate them, because they are very important for us. Especially in an attacking sense, where they have to replace Lewandowski.
Ji and Adrian, I've seen in the Bundesliga, I know both. Ji has even scored against us, that says everything. And Adrian I personally think is a really good striker, who has everything a striker needs. We saw that again today on the training ground. Ciro, so far I have only seen him at the World Cup; there, unfortunately, Italy were not so convincing. Therefore, we must wait for what he is capable of when he has been properly integrated.
Hofmann on; Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
Definitely. For their first year in Dortmund have both done really well. One sees now in pre-season that both have an extreme good early form. I believe that both are really good and have an important role to play.
Hofmann on; competition for places.
"For a club like BVB, you do not only have eleven players that play at a high level it. Of course, the competition is great, but this is normal in such a club. And of course there is an incentive to prevail here."
Hofmann on; regular game time.
"I therefore hope that I'll get more playing time this season. It is of course not easy to implement yourself as a young player in such a club. But when you perform in training and in pre-season, actually there is no reason that you can't."
Hofmann on; the future for him at Dortmund.
"Not at all. Only last year I signed a long-term contract (until 2018). This shows me that the club is planning with me. I'm also only 22, so I still have time to develop. I certainly hope that I make the jump as soon as possible. But I'm not thinking about any other clubs."
Hofmann on; moving to Dortmund, his initial impressions, what it's like now and what he likes to do in his spare time.
"In the beginning it was brutal. I had, for the first time, my own apartment with its own budget. I also had a new school. It was the first time I'd been away from home, I had to find new friends - which was relatively easy through the first year in school. It was actually all plain sailing - only with the language in the beginning it was a bit tough. But now almost everyone understands me here. [laughs]." said Hofmann "Yes. This is already my fourth year. I'm hardly at home; I'm actually only in Dortmund, but I'm also always happy to go back. I like to eat out because I often can't bring myself to cook. And I spend a lot of time with the friends I have found in Dortmund, because they are very close to my heart."
Hofmann on; helping Matthias Ginter settle in.
"Exactly. (laughs) We have already been causing trouble at the dinner table. Erik Durm is now back. We really only speak in dialect and then get one over on one of the other guys."
Hofmann on; the fans.
"If you consider that some fans spend their holiday here for us, I enjoy staying behind another half an hour to sign autographs. The people only come to look us play football and are really happy when we sign autographs or take photos after the training."
Hofmann on; the season ahead.
"The same as last year: to win something. Soon the Supercup against Bayern Munich takes place, which we won last year. It would be nice if we can retain it. But of course we want to stay near the top in the league and cup. And in the Champions League is the first target to survive the group stage. And then we'll see what happens."
Interview in 'WAZ' by Sebastian Weßling,