VfB Stuttgart didn’t have much to show for themselves away from home during the league phase. Coach Sebastian Hoeneß sees problems in converting chances and is now calling for more clinical finishing in Glasgow.
The Swabians came away empty-handed in Turkey against Fenerbahce Istanbul (0-1), in Switzerland against FC Basel (0-2), and in Italy against AS Roma (0-2). Only against Go Ahead Eagles in Deventer (4-0) were the Swabians able to win. All of these opponents are difficult to play against. They rely on physicality, intensity, and emotion. “We didn’t achieve the results we would have liked,” Hoeneß said. “But at least we played well in many phases of the game.”
VfB must play clinically and cool-headed
The problem is quite simple to identify: “Efficiency was a big issue,” said the 43-year-old. It will be again in Scotland. His team must play “clinically and ruthlessly” against Celtic to achieve the desired result. “You have to take advantage of the opportunities you get.”
Ermedin Demirovic, who scored twice against 1. FC Köln (3-1) last weekend and watched the Scots’ Champions League games on TV as a child, will also be responsible for this. “Celtic is a highlight,” says the striker, who is also optimistic that the team has learned from its defeats in the league phase. This is “a completely different thing from the final rounds. It won’t be easy, but I think we’ve grown a lot.”
Hoeneß wants to prepare his team for specific situations
Even the situation in a knockout round, which Stuttgart describe as new? “There’s a difference between being on the third matchday of the league phase with five more games to go, and having only two games in a week,” explains Hoeneß, who wants to prepare the team specifically for this. “You might have to briefly run through one or two scenarios in your mind: What do we do in the final phase? How do we behave in certain situations? But there won’t be any tactical games at the start of the match.”
Great memories with FC Bayern’s U19 team
Regardless of the sporting challenge, Stuttgart are trying to enjoy the game a little. Hoeneß still remembers an experience with FC Bayern’s U19 team. An unforgettable evening at Celtic Park in Glasgow. In the afternoon, they “played in the Youth League and in the evening they watched the pros play,” who won 2-1. “The stadium is huge, the atmosphere will be outstanding. It will be difficult, but of course also highly motivating to play there. These are exactly the games you hope for when you qualify for this competition.”
