SC Paderborn head coach Ralf Kettemann has confirmed that Steffen Tigges is expected to retain his place in the starting XI for Saturday's Bundesliga encounter against Hamburg. The 28-year-old striker has impressed his coach with a remarkable improvement in form, earning another opportunity after contributing a goal and an assist in last weekend's 2-2 draw against Werder Bremen.
Speaking at Thursday's pre-match press conference, Kettemann made a rare exception to his usual policy of avoiding definitive statements about his starting lineup. The Paderborn trainer hopes that Tigges can maintain the momentum generated by his recent performances, highlighting the striker's increasing confidence and consistent improvement on the training pitch.
"He's simply a different Tiggi, a better Tiggi with more self-confidence," Kettemann explained. "That simply deserved to be rewarded."
The public endorsement represents another significant step in Tigges' efforts to reestablish himself as a Bundesliga striker following several difficult seasons at Cologne.
Kettemann's decision to select Tigges ahead of Marvin Pieringer last weekend proved particularly effective. The former Borussia Dortmund striker contributed to both Paderborn goals as the newly promoted side established a 2-0 first-half lead at the Weserstadion. Tigges helped create Stefano Marino's 18th-minute opener before doubling the visitors' advantage himself following a defensive mistake.
"Nobody on my team wanted the ball," Thioune remarked during his post-match press conference. "Steffen Tigges wanted the ball and he scored the goal."
Bremen eventually recovered through two second-half goals from Niclas Füllkrug, leaving Paderborn to settle for a point despite their impressive opening period. Tigges' individual contribution nevertheless represented further evidence of a resurgence that Kettemann insists has been developing for several months.
Speaking before the Bremen encounter, the coach explained that he and Tigges had worked together on refining the striker's game.
"Tiggi has developed wonderfully since the summer break," Kettemann told DAZN. "We've discussed a few things to bring out Tiggi 2.0. There's more in him."
Following the match, Kettemann reiterated that the striker had been demonstrating excellent form throughout the Bundesliga campaign.
"He believes that he can still develop at 28 and do a few things differently to become more dangerous in front of goal," the Paderborn coach explained.
Tigges' recent improvement is particularly significant given the circumstances surrounding his departure from Köln.
The Osnabrück native initially broke into Borussia Dortmund's senior squad under Edin Terzic in December 2020, having established an impressive goalscoring record for the club's reserve team. He scored three Bundesliga goals during the 2021/22 campaign under Marco Rose before moving to Cologne in the summer of 2022 for a reported €1.5m fee.
The transfer initially appeared promising. Tigges scored seven Bundesliga goals and contributed three assists during his first season with die Geißböcke. His performances included memorable goals against former club Dortmund, a brace in Köln's emphatic 7-1 victory over Werder Bremen, and an important contribution against Augsburg.
His subsequent development nevertheless proved considerably more difficult. The striker struggled for consistency during Köln's disastrous 2023/24 relegation campaign and gradually lost his place in the team. He still provided some memorable late interventions, including important goals against Bochum and Union Berlin, but could not prevent the club's relegation.
A return to the 2. Bundesliga offered little improvement. Tigges failed to score in 18 competitive appearances during the 2024/25 season and found himself surplus to requirements following Köln's promotion back to the top flight.
New head coach Lukas Kwasniok even experimented with deploying him on the left wing during the summer of 2025, but the trial failed to secure him a meaningful role in the squad. Köln ultimately sold Tigges to Paderborn for a reported €400,000 in August 2025 .
The substantially reduced fee reflected how far Tigges' standing had fallen since his initial move from Dortmund. Tigges nevertheless approached the change positively, explaining that his difficult experiences at Köln had shaped him and that he was looking forward to a fresh challenge.
The first encouraging signs of Tigges' renewed form emerged during Paderborn's preparations for the 2026/27 Bundesliga campaign. As noted in Get German Football News' comprehensive SC Paderborn tactical preview , the striker enjoyed an especially productive preseason, including a hat-trick in a 4-3 friendly victory over his former club Köln.
The performance suggested that Tigges might once again become a valuable Bundesliga attacking option, although his prospects of establishing himself in Kettemann's starting lineup remained uncertain. Paderborn possessed several alternatives, including the more mobile Stefano Marino, whose tendency to drop into deeper positions offered the coach a different interpretation of the central striking role.
Marvin Pieringer subsequently emerged as another important competitor for attacking minutes. Tigges nevertheless continued to make his case through training performances and substitute appearances. His first Bundesliga goal of the season came during Paderborn's 3-1 victory over Hoffenheim in September. He subsequently maintained his positive form despite initially remaining outside the starting XI.
The contrast with the striker's situation at Köln a little over a year ago could scarcely be greater.
A player who had struggled to find competitive minutes in the second division is now earning the public backing of a Bundesliga coach who believes his development remains far from complete. Saturday's home encounter against Hamburg offers Tigges another opportunity to justify that confidence.
For a striker whose Bundesliga prospects appeared to be fading during his final months in Cologne, Kettemann's talk of a newer, better version of "Tiggi" represents a particularly welcome change.
