Bundesliga
“Not everything is good for drama”: VfB hopes for calm
In terms of sport, things are going really well at VfB Stuttgart this season. photo
© Jan-Philipp Strobel/dpa
In terms of sport, things are still going well at VfB Stuttgart. Participation in the Champions League is becoming increasingly likely. However, the club’s leadership is demanding an ultimatum from some of the fans.
In one of the many statements from the Bundesliga club about the opaque quarrels in the leadership, everything was said, said CEO Alexander Wehrle reservedly as he passed by on Saturday evening. In essence, Vogt, who was voted out as chairman of the supervisory board last week, the executive committee of the parent club, the board of the football association and the supervisory board are all in agreement. Only the team is unaffected by the unrest off the pitch.
VfB members dissatisfied with those responsible
Sports director Fabian Wohlgemuth hopes that the dominant performances week after week will help “everyone pull together again soon.” VfB is “a very big club that is lively,” he said. And that also means “that you have different trends and views. But I also have to say and that’s also a fact: not everything is suitable for drama.”
But it is also a fact: a majority of VfB members are dissatisfied that a promise made in 2017 was broken. At that time, Vogt’s predecessor Wolfgang Dietrich declared that a VfB president would never give up the office of chairman of the supervisory board. However, Vogt has now been replaced by Tanja Gönner. The new investor Porsche had pushed for a change in this committee.
A banner in the fan block in Sinsheim was intended to serve as a warning to the club’s management in view of the ultimatum that had been set. “Members sold & betrayed. You have two weeks to correct this mistake,” it said. Those responsible are under time pressure during the international break, which should be a great reason to celebrate due to the nomination of a VfB quartet. If it is not possible to appease one’s own fans, the next protest will take place on March 31st in the home game against 1. FC Heidenheim – on the day on which the stadium, which has also been rebuilt and completely renovated for the home European Championship, will be ceremoniously opened.
Stuttgart professionals with the national team
The players seem unimpressed by the surroundings. Waldemar Anton, Chris Führich, Deniz Undav and Maximilian Mittelstädt can present themselves in the DFB squad with national coach Julian Nagelsmann. “Of course the home European Championship is a huge dream,” said Stuttgart captain Anton. “It’s important to bring your own performance onto the pitch – in training, in test matches. It’s important that we go there with a lot of self-confidence.”
The VfB quartet should not be lacking in that at the moment. 56 points and third place are an extremely promising starting position in the race for the premier class, in which Stuttgart last played in the 2009/10 season. “Of course we are toying with the idea that the final spurt of the season is getting closer and closer. We joke about it here and there,” said Undav.
It remains to be seen whether the attacker, who set up the goals from Enzo Millot (16th) and Serhou Guirassy (45th +1) against Hoffenheim, will also play on the Neckar next season. When asked about his future, the loanee from Brighton & Hove Albion said: “That’s out of my hands, it’s up to them to decide.” Before that, the club management will also have to make other decisions so that peace can return to VfB outside of the sport.