For the second time in a row, Fabian Bredlow represented Stuttgart’s number 1, Alexander Nübel. No matter how he fulfills his task: the 28-year-old’s future is the bank. It’s a battle against windmills.
VfB keeper Fabian Bredlow will soon have to fall back in line again. IMAGO/Lobeca
Nübel’s return to the starting line-up was already expected in Darmstadt (2:1). But the hip problems that the starting keeper suffered around two weeks ago in a painful collision with the goal post did not subside. According to Sebastian Hoeneß, the fluid that has accumulated in the joint “doesn’t come out as quickly as we would hope. The fluid presses and hinders his mobility.” Accordingly, the loan keeper from FC Bayern did not train for the entire previous week. “If he had trained, he would have been able to play,” said the coach before the game in Darmstadt. However, the matter is merely annoying and in no way serious. There was a risk that the injury would “re-aggravate”.
When VfB starts preparing for the game against 1. FC Köln on Tuesday, Nübel is likely to be involved again and Bredlow’s reign between the posts will end. The substitute keeper was in goal in two games and received praise. Also in Darmstadt. “He didn’t have a super complicated game and played it very neatly and seriously,” said Fabian Wohlgemuth. The sports director “didn’t see any mistakes.”
“That makes the chest a little wider”
Bredlow was also happy. “It was very good and a lot of fun,” says the 28-year-old, who addresses the issue of a lack of match practice. “The more games you play, the more your self-confidence increases. Especially if you win the games, have good actions and can help the team, that’s of course great. That makes your chest get a little bigger.”
No luck with number 1
This was already wide in the summer and after the successful relegation. Bredlow was hoping for a place in the starting lineup. Instead, VfB signed Nübel, who has been number 1 ever since with the number 33 on his back. Bredlow had secured it, but had no luck with it. The Berlin native now reveals that his transfer back to the bench was “not an easy situation.” “Especially when you played in the second half of the season last year and of course had some expectation, the hope, that you would start the season in a different role this year.”
To make matters worse, he suffered a hip injury that put him out of the race for weeks. The end of all hopes, even the smallest ones, of being able to seriously challenge the big competitor. Bredlow had no choice but to work on himself and wait. “I just kept pushing in training, tried to collect minutes in the friendlies and security for the games.”
More than a consolation prize
Who now came against Mainz and Darmstadt. “Then you have to be there. You wouldn’t be ready for that if you had just been upset about everything and trained poorly in the previous months. If you put your foot down, and I did, you can reap a bit of the reward for it.” Two games isn’t a lot, but it’s still more than a consolation prize.
2024-02-19 08:16:45
#VfB #Stuttgart #Bredlows #fight #windmills
