VfB coach Bruno Labbadia doesn't want to do without emotions in football.
He made that clear at the matchday press conference before the Swabians' game at RB Leipzig with a personal anecdote.
Stuttgart - Naouirou Ahamada has let his joy run free.
Understandably, after all, the midfielder from VfB Stuttgart had just prepared the goal for a 2-1 lead against TSG Hoffenheim.
Wataru Endo scored in the 77th minute and in this Swabian moment of happiness there were many indications of a Stuttgart away win.
But things turned out differently.
Also because the jubilation of Ahamada, who was celebrating arm in arm with the fans, had bitter consequences: first the 20-year-old was sent off by referee Florian Badstübner with a yellow card before VfB scored the 2:2- conceded compensation.
VfB Stuttgart: Bruno Labbadia does not want to blame Ahamada
It is pointless to discuss whether Stuttgart would have taken the lead without being outnumbered.
But coach Bruno Labbadia found it difficult to blame his 20-year-old protégé anyway.
“Football is about emotions and real joy.
Now when I see him like this after the game, it's more about cheering him up than punishing him for anything."
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VfB coach Bruno Labbadia protects his protégé Ahamada.
© nordphoto GmbH / Bratic/IMAGO
In general, Labbadia was understanding.
When
asked by BW24
whether it would not have been better to save the extreme celebration for after the game, the coach said: "Don't be angry with me, but in front of our fans, who gave us great support - there was such euphoria in our curve .
If we don't do it like that, then I'll stop playing football."
Bruno Labbadia unpacks anecdote
Labbadia then made it clear why he didn't want to blame Ahamada and recalled that something similar had happened to him as an active player at 1. FC Kaiserslautern.
On April 8, 1989, Labbadia scored against 1. FC Köln in the then Müngersdorfer Stadion to make it 2-1 (87th minute) and then started a cheering run with some teammates.
However, the sheer joy was spoiled by the referee, who didn't wait until everyone was back from the party to start the game again.
Cologne took advantage of this situation and got a penalty in the next attack when only eight Kaiserslautern players were on the field.
Pierre Littbarski turned that into a 2-2 equalizer in the 89th minute.
At the thought of the good old days, Labbadia fell into a brief melancholy and grinned contentedly.
Maybe he should tell the story to Ahamada too.
She could put a smile back on the young Frenchman's face.
List of rubrics: © nordphoto GmbH / Bratic/IMAGO
