Stuttgart's Borna Sosa in action. © Tom Weller/dpa/Archivbild
Relegation-threatened VfB Stuttgart are showing morale and are going into the final matchday with a significantly improved starting position. Coach Hoeneß can make his rescue mission successful.
Mainz - Sebastian Hoeneß knew who he had to thank. Immediately after the final whistle, the VfB Stuttgart coach ran to his goalkeeper Fabian Bredlow and hugged him. With the 4-1 (1-1) victory at FSV Mainz 05, the Swabians took a big step towards salvation in the fight for relegation in the Bundesliga on Sunday. Ahead of the final matchday, when Stuttgart play at home against TSG 15 Hoffenheim on Saturday (30:1899 CET/Sky), they are now 15th in the table. again, everything is in your own hands.
"Of course, we want to create as little tension as possible," said Hoeneß. VfB are only one point ahead of FC Schalke 04, who have fallen back to penultimate place. VfL Bochum is level on points with Stuttgart in the relegation relegation zone, but has a significantly worse goal difference.
"All the concentration is already on the game against Hoffenheim," said sporting director Fabian Wohlgemuth, who stepped in front of the microphones with beads of sweat on his forehead due to the high temperatures.
The effort of his team had been rewarded. After an early deficit by Marcus Ingvartsen (23rd minute), captain Wataru Endo scored the equaliser before the break (41st). Serhou Guirassy gave VfB the lead with a header (64') and the two substitutes Chris Führich (78') and Tanguy Coulibaly (90'+1) then made things clear.
For Hoeneß, who took over as coach from the unfortunate and ultimately unsuccessful Bruno Labbadia in April, the week is now about finding the right mix. "This is a situation that we have to classify really well," said the 41-year-old. "But I didn't see any exaggerated euphoria among the guys in the dressing room. I have real confidence in the guys that they know what we need now."
Goalkeeper Bredlow is also in desperate need of a decent performance. Recently, he had been criticized from time to time. Against Rheinhessen, he made two strong saves against Anton Stach and Ludovic Ajorque (83rd) within seconds to ensure that Mainz did not come close again. "He was an enormously important factor for us," said Hoeness, explaining his direct walk to the keeper after the final whistle. "I didn't want to concede 2-3. The pressure was already enormous. From this point of view, he has spared us a very heated final phase. I know he was under pressure."
This is not decreasing for the time being. Because only with a win against TSG, coached by former coach Pellegrino Matarazzo, can the Neckarstadt team no longer be denied relegation. In the event of a draw, they are dependent on support.
Those responsible do not want to rely on this. "We had the chance to significantly improve our starting position and make up ground on the competition, and we made impressive use of this opportunity. But this victory is only half the battle," Wohlgemuth said. "We have to keep the tension going because we want to finish on a good note once again. We haven't achieved anything yet."
It remains to be seen whether VfB will be able to call on defenders Dan-Axel Zagadou and Borna Sosa against Hoffenheim. Central defender Zagadou was substituted in Mainz with a head injury and complained of dizziness. Sosa was absent due to an infection in the mouth and throat.
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The Stuttgart-based company now has just under a week to focus. The good news is that they have once again shown that they can withstand the pressure - thanks in part to a strong Bredlow as a back-up. Dpa