7th matchday
Winless streak continues: Mislintat demands focus on results
Frankfurt’s Sebastian Rode (r) ensures the 1-0 lead with a header. photo
© Marijan Murat/dpa
After a turbulent week away from the pitch, VfB Stuttgart was denied a sporting answer. Three goals conceded by standards against Eintracht Frankfurt lead to a 1:3.
Eintracht Frankfurt’s sporting director Markus Krösche left the VfB Stuttgart arena with a birthday cake and three points in his luggage. The hosts, on the other hand, were again without anything to count after the 1:3 (0:1) on Saturday.
The fall to 16th place in the table, the ongoing winless streak and three goals conceded after a dead ball ensure that VfB are sobered up after an eventful week ahead of the upcoming international break. It was the seventh game without a three for VfB, who had never had to wait so long for a win at the start of the season in their club history.
VfB conceded three goals according to standards
“Of course that gives us a stupid feeling and puts us under pressure,” said sporting director Sven Mislintat. The squad planner had come into focus before the game. Responsible for this were personnel decisions by CEO Alexander Wehrle, who presented his new advisors, the two former world champions Sami Khedira and Philipp Lahm, on Monday. Former VfB captain Christian Gentner will also expand his sporting skills as head of the licensed player department from January.
Mislintat’s own future, on the other hand, is still open. Nor was he spoken to about the integration of the three former VfB professionals. In the meantime, the communication “with which I did not agree” has been cleared up, said the 49-year-old, whose contract is valid until the summer of 2023. “It would be good for VfB Stuttgart if we focused on football and results,” he said.
He does not believe that the players were distracted by the unrest in the environment against the new table sixth. He also denies that VfB is facing a restless international break. Instead, he predicts “good and busy” days.
The Stuttgart team could start by defending standard situations, among other things. The Champions League participant took the lead early on through Sebastian Rode (15′) because Florian Müller was only able to fend off a free kick from Daichi Kamada.
After the break, Konstantinos Mavropanos was initially lucky after a tough challenge against Ansgar Knauff that he only saw a yellow card. He and the hosts were still punished. Kamada converted the following free kick (55th). This time Waldemar Anton deflected beforehand.
Frankfurt’s Krösche completely satisfied
VfB fought back. But he missed the few chances that presented themselves. And although the Hessians were still playing in the premier class on Tuesday and won 1-0 at Olympique Marseille, they didn’t let up. “I was tired in the first half,” said Kamada. “But after my goal I felt fresh again.”
The majority of the 47,500 spectators felt hope after Tiago Tomás’ goal, but Kristijan Jakic restored the lead after a corner kick from Kamada. “Three goals against set pieces are annoying,” said VfB coach Matarazzo.
However, his counterpart, Oliver Glasner, was happy. The standard situations came about because the Eintracht professionals were able to mobilize the necessary energy again and kept going deeper. After Eintracht’s first Champions League victory ever, the Hessians followed suit in Stuttgart. “From a sporting point of view, I can’t imagine anything nicer on my birthday,” said Krösche, who was also serenaded by his staff as he said goodbye in the direction of the parking garage.