- Stuttgart's urgent defensive situation necessitates immediate improvisation from Hoeneß.
Sebastian Hoeneß had a lengthy list of absences to deal with. The coach had jotted down the names of players who wouldn't be able to start VfB Stuttgart's new Bundesliga season. "This isn't something I encounter frequently," Hoeneß remarked, after listing out the definite and potential absences. "This is the challenge," he swiftly added, showing determination. Despite their defensive concerns, Stuttgart entered their game against SC Freiburg on Saturday (3:30 PM/Sky) with a boost of confidence.
The hunt for a new center-back is in full swing
"We'll have to make some adjustments," Hoeneß stated. Leonidas Stergiou was ruled out for several weeks due to a back vertebra inflammation, while Anthony Rouault was sidelined with a shoulder injury, as announced by the coach. Dan-Axel Zagadou and Josha Vagnoman were still in recovery phase and weren't available for the Freiburg match anyway. Yannik Keitel might also miss the derby due to ankle issues. Maximilian Mittelstädt had to cut training short during the week. The center-back situation in Swabia was dire.
Explaining the urgency in the transfer market for a new center-back, Hoeneß stressed the need to avoid "panicking." In the meantime, he would have to find a solution within the team.
Schuster steps into Bundesliga management for the first time with Freiburg
There was a possibility that Ramon Hendriks, newly signed from Feyenoord Rotterdam, or 20-year-old Anrie Chase could make their Bundesliga debut. Hoeneß might also shift Angelo Stiller from midfield to defense, a strategy that worked effectively in last season's 1-0 win against Borussia Dortmund. Stiller, who is preferred by Hoeneß in midfield as a key playmaker, was, nonetheless, a reliable option in defense.
Despite the defensive crisis in Stuttgart, Hoeneß expected a "real tough battle" in Breisgau. "SC Freiburg has an excellent team," he said. While a new era began in Freiburg after Christian Streich's departure, with Julian Schuster bringing a "new, fresh face" to the coaching bench, Hoeneß anticipated Schuster would need "little time to adjust" due to his long-standing connection with the club.
Hope from the Leverkusen encounter
The opening game between Baden and Swabia was already looking tense. Add the new coach in Freiburg and the defensive woes in Stuttgart, and it was clear that there was a lot riding on this match. Hoeneß anticipated "the strongest resistance."
However, his team's performance in the Supercup last weekend offered him some optimism. Although the game against double-winner Bayer Leverkusen ended in a penalty shootout loss, Stuttgart put up a good fight. According to Hoeneß, his team was tested at a high level and proved its worth in various areas.
So far, there were few signs that the Swabians were on the brink of another sporting decline. But they had a challenging task ahead of them in Freiburg.
The defensive absences have led Sebastian Hoeneß to explore the transfer market for a new center-back, considering the current center-back situation in Swabia is dire. Despite the injuries and unavailability of players like Leonidas Stergiou, Anthony Rouault, Dan-Axel Zagadou, Josha Vagnoman, Yannik Keitel, and Maximilian Mittelstädt, Hoeneß is optimistic about finding a solution within the team or potentially giving an opportunity to Ramon Hendriks or Anrie Chase.
