At the start of the new year, VfB Stuttgart faces a challenging program. Sports director Christian Gentner speaks in an interview with SWR Sport about the sporting situation at the Swabians.
Christian Gentner has a hard time with the question of wishes for the New Year. “I don’t know if football is always about wishes,” said the sports director. “Of course we have goals. We want to have a successful second half of the season. Otherwise, of course, we want exciting games in the arena and that our boys get through the season healthy.”
VfB is looking forward to the bonus games
Dancing at three weddings is currently presenting VfB Stuttgart with challenges. Four English weeks in a row await the Swabians. The games in the Bundesliga include the Champions League games at Slovan Bratislava (January 21) and against Paris St. Germain (January 29). The quarter-finals of the DFB Cup against FC Augsburg will take place on February 4th.
Gentner awaits the program with a mixture of respect and anticipation. The latter clearly predominates. “It’s very clear that we’re looking forward to it. We’ve emphasized that again and again. It shouldn’t be an additional burden,” said Gentner. “These are bonus games that we got in our calendar.”
Gentner on Undav and Leweling
The 39-year-old sees VfB prepared for the coming weeks. “Of course it’s demanding. But we’ve put together the squad accordingly. The boys are all professionals and they’d like to play every three days,” said Gentner.
Before the packed weeks that begin with the away game at FC Augsburg (January 12th), two prominent returnees come at just the right time. Both Deniz Undav and Jamie Leweling are about to make a comeback after their muscle injuries. “As of now they are fit and are training completely with the team,” said Gentner. “We will of course continue to build everything carefully.”
The breadth of coach Sebastian Hoeneß’s squad means that the two national players don’t have to start from 0 to 100. “There are a lot of games in the coming weeks and we obviously want to get the boys fit through the games. That’s why it will be a lot about load management,” said Gentner.
The Bundesliga is a priority for VfB
And what does Gentner hope for the rest of the season? Cup final, knockout round in the Champions League or top 5 in the Bundesliga? “We’ve come back to the wishes,” said a smiling Gentner.
“The priority is always the league. Clearly, that is our day-to-day business. It is also the most honest competition when you achieve a result over 34 match days.” And yet VfB still wants to “achieve the maximum we can in the Champions League and DFB Cup,” said Gentner. With goals instead of wishes.
Broadcast on Thursday, January 2, 2025, 6:00 p.m., SWR Aktuell Baden-Württemberg, SWR BW
