In the 0-2 defeat against Werder Bremen, Stuttgart’s Serhou Guirassy tore a tendon in the adductor area and will be out for weeks. Who should replace the most accurate VfB striker now?
As if it were 0-2 defeat against Werder Bremen wasn’t bitter enough for VfB Stuttgart. Now it is also clear: Serhou Guirassy, the Swabian top scorer with six goals this season, has been out for weeks with a torn tendon in the adductor area. The Swabians’ concerns about relegation are growing, and the question of an adequate replacement is getting louder.
The difficult search for a Guirassy replacement
Just how difficult it would be to replace Guirassy became apparent immediately after he was substituted through injury in the 25th minute. In the early stages, VfB showed a decent performance against Bremen and created some good chances. But then a break came into play and the Swabians lacked the pressure to go forward.
“People who can score goals are not that easy to get,” said VfB coach Bruno Labbadia after the game and added: “Guirassy is someone who can score goals.” The Stuttgart team can no longer rely on him for the time being. Tiago Tomás is also still injured, while Silas has only just returned to team training. So who should score the goals for VfB in the near future?
YouTube video from SWR Sport Fußball: “Guirassy injured, game lost: problems at VfB are getting bigger – DEIN VfB #56 | SWR Sport”
Luca Pfeiffer still without a Bundesliga goal
Luca Pfeiffer, who came on for Guirassy, is a similar type of player to the 26-year-old Frenchman. Both are classic center forwards. At 1.96 meters, Pfeiffer even has clear size advantages over Guirassy. Nevertheless, the native of Bad Mergentheim has not really got going since moving to VfB in the summer of 2022. He hasn’t scored a single goal in 13 Bundesliga games.
Before joining the Swabians, Pfeiffer played in the Danish league at FC Midtjylland, Darmstadt 98 and the Würzburger Kickers. It is questionable whether he will make the long-awaited leap in performance and support VfB in the relegation battle. However, the return of Borna Sosa, who can use a buyer like Pfeiffer in the penalty area for his precise crosses, gives hope.
Juan José Perea with more playing time under Labbadia
Juan José Perea also moved to the Neckar last summer and can not only play in the center of the attack, but also on the flank. Former coach Pellegrino Matarazzo praised Perea’s physique and pace when he arrived in Stuttgart. Nevertheless, the Colombian only had a supporting role under Matarazzo and only got a few minutes of play. That changed under Labbadia. The 22-year-old was even in the Bundesliga starting XI for the first time against Bremen – alongside Guirassy. At half-time, however, Perea was replaced by newcomer Gil Dias. Like Pfeiffer, Perea is still waiting for his first Bundesliga goal.
Gil Dias: Beacons of hope after a dream debut in the cup
Gil Dias could not have dreamed of a better debut at VfB: In his first game for the Swabians, the last-minute transfer scored the all-important 1-1 equalizer in the round of 16 against Paderborn just four minutes after coming on. Of course, the Portuguese also aroused great hopes among VfB fans and officials.
However, the left foot is not a trained center forward and therefore not a direct replacement for Guirassy. “With Gil Dias we are signing a player who can be used on the flanks,” said Stuttgart’s sporting director Fabian Wohlgemuth about the Dias transfer. The club reacted to Tiago Tomás’ injury with him. Of course, it wasn’t planned that Guirassy would be out. The fine foot of the tall Portuguese could of course still help the Swabians in the relegation battle.
Thomas Kastanaras: The Stuttgart home-grown
Thomas Kastanaras is a Stuttgart native and has already gone through the youth teams of VfB. Born in Stuttgart, he can be used flexibly up front and has already played for VfB as a centre-forward and on the right flank. However, the 20-year-old has only made four Bundesliga appearances. While Kastanaras only had a short appearance at Matarazzo, Labbadia brought him in three out of four games – even from the start against Leipzig. If the German-Greek continues to diligently collect minutes of the game, it could soon be his first Bundesliga goal. Maybe he’ll get his next chance on Saturday against Freiburg (3:30 p.m., live in the SWR1 stadium).
Alou Kuol with just a mini bet
Alou Kuol has hardly played a (storm) role so far. The 21-year-old Australian returned to VfB from his loan in Sandhausen in the summer of 2022. In the entire first half of the season he was only once in the squad. At 1: 2 in Leipzig, Kuol then celebrated his Bundesliga premiere under Labbadia. In the 86th minute he came on for the hapless Pfeiffer. Just one game later against Bremen, Kuol had to vacate his place in the squad.
With Pfeiffer, Perea, Dias, Kastanaras and Kuol, Labbadia has five potential replacement strikers for Guirassy. In addition, there is Chris Führich, who has already played at the top as a midfielder under Labbadia and, with three goals this season – together with Silas and Endo – is in second place in VfB’s top scorer. It is rather unlikely that one of them will become a snapper overnight. But it can also be a chance for the five to finally prove themselves – and thus help VfB in the relegation battle.
