In their attempt to extend their winning streak, the Stuttgart team will have to contend with obstacles ahead of the game at Union Berlin. The late return of three national players will be a race against time.
On an international trip: Serhou Guirassy (left). picture alliance/dpa
Chris Führich, who is playing tonight with the DFB team in the USA against Mexico, as well as Hiroki Ito (with Japan against Tunisia) and Silas (with the DR Congo in Angola) are not expected back in Stuttgart until Thursday morning. All three will first complete a light regeneration session before taking part in the final training session on Friday. Immediately afterwards we go to Berlin.
Not a problem that is exclusive to the Swabians. Still not exactly the best preparation for the game. Especially when trying to expand on the top start with six successes in seven games and recently five wins in a row. VfB has never had such a good record at the same time and tops the 1982/83 seasons (converted to the three-point rating) as well as the 2003/04 and 2004/05 seasons by one point each.
Guirassy is due to return on Wednesday
Jovan Milosevic, who was with Serbia’s U19 team, has already started training again. Enzo Millot (France U21), Woo-Yeong Jeong (South Korea) and Serhou Guirassy (Guinea) are scheduled to return tomorrow. The goalscorer in particular will be particularly in demand again in order to end the Swabian negative series at Union. Stuttgart have not won any of their six Bundesliga duels with the Köpenick team so far, always falling behind in all duels and only drawing three.
The first defeat, in relegation in May 2019, was followed by relegation. The most recent one, on the 26th matchday of the previous season, also had an unforgettable aftertaste: VfB traveled to the Alte Försterei as bottom of the table and was welcomed by the then third-place team, went home 3-0 and Tainer Bruno Labbadia was sent into exile by the Swabians. Sebastian Hoeneß took over. But the current head coach hasn’t had any luck with the team from the capital either. The 41-year-old only managed two draws in four duels with TSG Hoffenheim.
The current negative series that the Berliners are pushing this season should not lead to carelessness, says the Stuttgart sports director. “Union is a Champions League participant,” says Fabian Wohlgemuth. “To get there, we made a lot of right decisions over a long period of time. We know what format awaits us.”
2023-10-17 12:44:54
#VfB #race #time
