Sosa causes a sensation
It should come as no surprise to anyone watching 24-year-old Sosa play football that the left-back has caught the eye of top international clubs. The elegance on the ball, the pace, the game overview – and his dangerous flanks. In particular, the interaction of the defender with attacker Kalajdzic almost regularly causes enthusiasm among the Stuttgart supporters – the Austrian often uses the Croatian’s assists to score.
“The strengths that the two have complement each other very well,” said coach Pellegrino Matarazzo recently on Sky. “An outstanding cross needs an outstanding header and someone who has the right nose to be in the right space at the right moment.” The problem: currently only one of the two VfB stars is on the pitch.
Sorely missed in the relegation battle
Maybe Sosa could have given the decisive cross to win last Saturday’s 1-1 win in Bielefeld – whether it was Kalajdzic or someone else. But the professional, who came to the Neckar from Dinamo Zagreb in 2018, was absent due to adductor problems and therefore missed two games with Croatia’s national team in the days before.
His return to training this week was important because of the table-15 position. is still precarious despite the last eight points from four games – the lead over the relegation place 16 is only one point. Defense chief Waldemar Anton is also suspended against Dortmund. Sosa representative Hiroki Ito is probably moving back inside.
Can Sosa be held?
A quick look at the recent statistics shows how valuable Sosa and his left foot are for VfB. At the 3-2 win over FC Augsburg in mid-March he put the ball on Anton with a free kick for the interim 1:1 equalization. Previously, he had prepared Kalajdzic’s 1-1 draw at Union Berlin at the last minute. And again a game earlier, the attacker had assisted Sosa from the left to 3:2 final score against Borussia Mönchengladbach utilized.
It is currently unclear how long Sosa, who has the former superstar David Beckham, who is known for his crosses, as a role model, will remain in Stuttgart despite a contract until 2025. After all, the club will be dependent on achieving a high transfer surplus in the summer due to the horrendous corona losses. The market value for Sosa is around 20 million euros, and outstanding players on the defensive flanks are rather rare.
A magic left foot
VfB sporting director Sven Mislintat recently said: “We have always emphasized that we sit down with the respective player when there are relevant offers to find the best solution for VfB and the player.” In addition to Sosa, it was also about Kalajdzic and the central midfielder Orel Mangala. Mislintat also once said that Sosa crosses from every angle and in many different ways. “His left foot is an absolute weapon.” They now have to use others against BVB than the preferred buyer Kalajdzic.
Source: SWR