Bundesliga News

Germany: Bundesliga
FT
3 - 2
(2 - 2)
Wolfsburg
Stuttgart
O. Marmoush (23), M. Arnold (38), Y. Gerhardt (90)
S. Guirassy (22), K. Mavropanos (45)

Multiple personnel issues for Matarazzo ahead of Wolfsburg

By Peter Weis   @PeterVicey

Renewed injury problems for starting right-wingback Josha Vagnoman leave VfB Stuttgart trainer Pellegrino Matarazzo without a reliable actor in one of the few areas of his tactical constellation he had located some stability. 

All the fatigue associated with long trips back for his returning international players means that the American head-coach will have significant difficulty building a matchday squad for Saturday's trip to Wolfsburg.
Pellegrino Matarazzo.
Pellegrino Matarazzo.
Presiding over one of two Bundesliga clubs (Bochum being the other one) still yet to achieve a win this season, VfB Stuttgart trainer Pellegrino Matarazzo hasn't been able to make the puzzle pieces fit on the pitch this year. Though the VfB gaffer has remained committed to a basic 3-3-2-2 shape, regular deployments in the dual-striker-set and right-wingback role have been hard to come by.


At the very least appeared as if Matarazzo had found a solution to the right-wingback question with pricey offseason acquisition Josha Vagnoman, but the former Hamburger SV man's struggles with a bone edema have denied him that bit of certainty as well. In the most recent league encounter against Frankfurt, ordinarily solid actors Chris Führich and "Silas" both struggled in the position.

Vagnoman has been unable to train with the team throughout the international break after missing out on a U21 call-up due to his continued injury issues. Those VfB players who did represent their country face late returns to the team's camp following hectic travel schedules.

Captain Wataru Endo and defender Hiroki Ito (both Japan) still have an international match to play. Bornauw Sosa (Croatia), Konstantinos Mavropanos (Greece), and Serhou Guirassy (Guinea) will have precise little time to prepare for the weekend. Naouriou Ahamada, Tanguy Coulibaly, and Atakan Karazor weren't able to begin the training week with Stuttgart due to injuries and/or personal issues.

It would appear that Matarazzo's best option on the right middle axis would be experienced fullback Pascal Stenzel, but this might require a system shift to a back-four; something that hasn't worked out particularly well for the Swabians this year. About the only thing going the American head-coach has going for him heading into the encounter concerns the fact that opponents Wolfsburg remain in disarray.


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