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VfB Stuttgart to Leipzig: Bruno Labbadia praises and quarrels

In the end, VfB Stuttgart was left empty-handed. The guest performance in Leipzig still encourages the Swabians.

Don’t blame his team: Bruno Labbadia.

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“I don’t think I’ve ever experienced that in my coaching career,” said Bruno Labbadia before the game in Leipzig on DAZN about what happened in Stuttgart’s staff camp three days after the guest appearance in Hoffenheim. It was known that Konstantinos Mavropanos, Tiago Tomas, Silas (each injured) and Naouirou Ahamada (suspended) would be out against RB. Shortly before the game, top scorer Serhou Guirassy complained of stomach problems and was unable to take part.

The fact that Stuttgart started with a hull eleven in Saxony, among others the 20-year-old Thomas Kastanaras celebrated his starting eleven debut, was not evident throughout the game. VfB acted at eye level, didn’t give Leipzig a single chance for a long time and almost took the lead themselves through youngster Kastanaras.

However, after just over 20 minutes, referee Felix Zwayer gave Leipzig a free kick after Wataru Endo stole the ball 30 meters from Dani Olmo’s goal. A flattering decision that caused a great deal of anger in the Stuttgart camp. “He clearly plays the ball, a completely normal duel, he doesn’t hit it anywhere,” Waldemar Anton analyzed the scene and was supported by coach Labbadia. “You can’t get a better ball capture in counterpressing.”

Labbadia’s reference to the Leipziger Bank

It was a decision with consequences, Dominik Szoboszlai tried it directly, goalkeeper Florian Müller made a mistake and unfortunately steered the ball into his own goal. “It’s shit, but we have to accept it,” said Labbadia.

Trailing behind, Stuttgart struggled for a long time, but didn’t give up after the second goal they conceded and after a little over an hour they scored a deserved goal – Chris Führich converted a hand penalty. In the end, it wasn’t enough to equalize, but the performance in Stuttgart made an impression.

“Senastional”, Labbadia assessed the performance of his weakened team. “If Leipziger Bank begs the referee to blow the whistle three minutes before the end, then you know what the situation was like for us,” continued the 56-year-old.

“Even Schalke invested more”

Labbadia also knew that you couldn’t buy anything from it again. “Two points from three games is not enough for the way we played. We deserved a lot more.” The situation remains threatening, in the worst case Stuttgart will slip down to 17th place this weekend.

Is that why VfB will be active again on the transfer market? “We know the club’s situation. We work with what we have. I said from the start that we have an incredible board in front of us. The competitors struck, Augsburg invested, even Schalke invested more. But we don’t whine and accept things like that,” said Labbadia about the personnel situation.

Shortly before the end of the window, the Swabians are likely to grow. The vacant eighth position in midfield could soon be filled by Genki Haraguchi. The Japanese was last twice in the starting XI at Union Berlin, but because the Irons added personnel with Aissa Laidouni and have an oversupply in this position, a departure could be cope with. “It will be seen in three days whether that is a possibility for us,” said sports director Fabian Wohlgemuth about the personnel.

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