There was once again a very, very good atmosphere in Stuttgart-Bad Cannstatt. Just like always when VfB Stuttgart wins one of their home games, which they achieved for the tenth time in the 13th attempt in a 2-0 win against Union Berlin this season. This time, however, the focus of the celebrations was not Serhou Guirassy, who scored Stuttgart’s first goal (19th), nor Chris Führich, who contributed the second with a well-placed and steel-hard shot that not only Union’s Robin Gosens called “world class”. found. And neither did Maximilian Mittelstädt, who, together with Führich on the left wing, was involved in almost all dangerous situations.
No, this evening was clearly about the coach: Sebastian Hoeneß. Because he had signed a new contract that morning that binds him to the Swabians until 2027. But isn’t this just a cheap ploy to get a high fee when he’s moving to one of the German addresses with even more prestige and money in the summer? Rather not. Because Hoeneß gave a few interviews before the game. One of them was on the club’s own TV, which had him say beautiful sentences for the Swabian spirit from the scoreboard before kick-off: “Dear VfB fans, there is good news. Our journey together continues,” whereupon thousands clapped. He was even clearer at Dazn: “If I were really thinking about changing in the summer, then I probably wouldn’t have extended the contract now,” he said. And that too was as logical as it was illuminating.
All speculation as to whether Hoeneß will coach FC Bayern, Bayer Leverkusen or perhaps a world team that has yet to be founded in the coming season must now be put to rest for the time being. And as things stand, that is really good news for VfB. Because he started to find himself and a style of play that suited him almost exactly at the moment when Hoeneß took over in April 2022.
Conversely, Hoeneß has also grown at VfB. Of course, he has the kind of success there that makes fans clap when coaches extend their contracts. At the end of his two-year stint at TSG Hoffenheim, he no longer had it. However, he has also changed his demeanor since his time in Kraichgau – apparently quite consciously. While he mostly advocated a strategy of pure avoidance when making public statements, which often came at the expense of substance, he is now one of the league’s best-communicating coaches. Even more experienced colleagues would probably have failed this season in the task of not belittling a team that was almost relegated last season, without ever seeming loud-mouthed or self-absorbed. Hoeneß has managed the balancing act masterfully since the beginning of the season, praised the team on Friday, and still warned that “victories should never be taken for granted, even if we are winning relatively often.” And whether he had an exit clause written into the contract (which one can assume) or not – signing the contract is always a real commitment to VfB. Hoeneß sees himself “on the right track” in Stuttgart.
Union also had its chances – but played the final phase outnumbered
You can see that when you have 53 points after 25 games – and a pretty big gap to fourth place. They would have to lose a lot of games to avoid being in the Champions League at the end of the season. And the last time they lost was on January 20th. He wins most games so confidently that the opposing coach can only congratulate politely.
This is also the opinion of Union coach Nenad Bjelica, who found Andràs Schäfer’s dismissal after a foul on Josha Vagnoman too harsh, but was right when he spoke of a “game with equal opportunities”. Yorbe Vertessen (3rd), Kevin Volland (33rd/49th) and Lucas Tousart (42nd) had good opportunities – and missed them. Stuttgart also had three or four more shots, two of which might have ended up in the net on (even) better days. But even if Hoeneß dutifully complained that they lacked a bit of rigor in the last quarter of an hour – that’s exactly how you can play when you win 2-0 against a decimated opponent. And if you have something planned for the rest of the season.