Stuttgart (AP) – Coach Pellegrino Matarazzo demanded courage and attitude from the VfB Stuttgart players before the difficult away game at FC Bayern Munich on Sunday (5:30 p.m. / DAZN).
The Swabians, threatened with relegation, had “two crap games” behind them, said the 44-year-old, looking back on the defeat at Hertha BSC (0-2) and the draw against VfL Wolfsburg (1-1). “We weren’t there at all against Hertha and it wasn’t enough against Wolfsburg,” emphasized Matarazzo. “Now it’s about getting up, getting strong, believing in it and putting energy on the pitch.” You really want to score points in Munich.
Matarazzo did not want to overestimate the trip to Ibiza by some Bayern pros following their 3-1 defeat at 1. FSV Mainz 05 last weekend. “It’s not like someone was away for five days and on a drinking spree. You got two days off and you were on the road a bit,” said the Italian-American. But “professional game preparation was still going on,” said Matarazzo. He expects the German champions to win their last home game of the season and take the trophy with a win. “We are prepared for a top-ranked Munich team.”
The use of VfB defender Konstantinos Mavropanos is questionable. The Greek was hit against Wolfsburg on a spot above the iliac crest and had problems at the beginning of the week, reported Matarazzo. But he was “optimistic that it will work for the game”. The Swabians have been without a win for five games and are in danger of being relegated for the third time in a few years.