Hoeneß confirms that Silas and Sosa are fit for Nürnberg
Freshly installed VfB Stuttgart trainer Sebastian Hoeneß admitted that he had his work cut out for him in tomorrow evening's DFB Pokal quarterfinal showdown with 1. FC Nürnberg, but did convey the good news that the one-time powerful left-right duo of Borna Sosa and Silas would be available for the fixture.
| Sebastian Hoeneß | VfB Stuttgart |
"Tactics aren't the most important thing," Hoeneß said at the Tuesday pre-match presser, "We want to convey ideas on the pitch; clear and simple processes to get things pointed in the right direction. We want to exhibit certain principles. Talks with the players will play more of a role than principles."
Hoeneß can take solace in the fact that - unlike Labbadia against Union over the weekend - the once powerful duo of Borna Sosa and Silas would be available to start. Though it seems like an eternity ago, one-time VfB Stuttgart trainer Pellegrino Matarazzo was once able to bring out the best in the two players.
Sosa recorded nine assists during the 2020/21 campaign. Silas, prior to suffering an ACL tear that year, netted 11 league goals. Matarazzo would often use the players together up front or have them operate on a split-stagger. Sosa and the then referred to "Silas Wamangituka" were once considered an inchoate version of the Filip Kostic-André Silva Eintracht Frankfurt pairing.
"We had the full troop on the pitch today," Hoeneß said at the press conference, "Everyone is fit and ready to go. I have a clear idea of how I want to approach things."