VfB coach Sebastian Hoeneß is surprised by the expectations at the end of a successful year for Stuttgart and is counting on a strong performance against newly promoted St. Pauli.
Sebastian Hoeneß has a bit of a cold, but that’s not the only reason he sounded out of sorts. In the coach’s opinion, VfB Stuttgart’s performance so far this season is viewed too critically. In addition, the Swabians cannot get rid of their injury worries. On the contrary: Hoeneß is particularly suffering with youngster Justin Diehl, who has been hit hard again. He was “surprised at how negatively the situation is sometimes viewed,” said Hoeneß before the final game of the year against FC St. Pauli.
The 42-year-old was in the same vein as striker Ermedin Demirovic recently. If the Stuttgart team also wins against the newcomers from Hamburg in the Bundesliga on Saturday (3:30 p.m. in the Sportschau live center), they would have played an “outstanding half-series,” said the coach.
Undav and Leweling are still missing
Hoeneß calculated that it was already the club’s best Bundesliga first half of the season in 18 years – and that despite the additional burden of the Champions League and constant staff absences. His team “didn’t always play exhilarating football” but “showed incredible character,” said Hoeneß. He gives her credit for that.
VfB is aiming for its fifth competitive win in a row against St. Pauli. However, he still has to do without national players Deniz Undav and Jamie Leweling. The game comes too early for the two offensive players who have been missing since the beginning of November due to muscle injuries, explained Hoeneß. The ailing captain Atakan Karazor is also “very likely not there”. Stands for him Yannik Keitel in midfield as a first alternative.
A bitter setback for youngster Diehl
VfB will again be missing Justin Diehl for a longer period of time. The 20-year-old suffered a muscle injury in his thigh during training, the coach reported. The offensive talent will not be available in the new year either. Hoeneß said it was “brutal” and “bitter” for the new summer signing from 1. FC Köln. After all, Diehl also had to overcome a long-term shoulder injury in his short time at VfB.
This new setback is “bad news just before Christmas,” said Hoeneß, who is a self-confessed fan of the winger. The future belongs to Diehl, the coach explained again and again. However, the Swabians will have to ensure that the young professional becomes more physically stable.
Last show of strength against St. Pauli
According to Hoeneß, the Stuttgart team will have to push themselves to their physical limits again against St. Pauli. It was a “demanding team to play,” said the VfB coach. The Hamburg team would put in an extreme amount of running, so his own team would have to get “into the red zone” again. After a remarkable year with runner-up and European Cup finishes, Hoeneß definitely wants an “outstanding finish”.
Broadcast on Saturday, December 21st, 2024, 6:00 p.m., SWR1 Baden-Württemberg, SWR1 Baden-Württemberg
