Hoeneß provides squad updates, defers goalkeeping question until after Bochum
Ahead of a massive relegation six-pointer away at Bochum on Sunday, newly installed VfB Stuttgart trainer Sebastian Hoeneß spoke on the possible deployments in his second pressure-filled match in less than a week in charge.
Upon being appointed as VfB Stuttgart's new head-coach, Sebastian Hoeneß outlined his priorities quite clearly. First, it was his responsibility to lead the team to the DFB-Pokal semi-finals. That objective having been accomplished, it was then immediately time to focus on how to keep the Bundesliga's last-placed club in the league.
Hoeneß conceded that he still hade much work to do in getting to know his new squad. The new gaffer was even candid enough to admit that there was one personnel matter he wasn't even prepared to tackle yet. Namely, the goalkeeping issue bequeathed to him by predecessor Bruno Labbadia. Would Fabian Bredlow or Florian Müller stand guard between the sticks in the relegation fight?
"I haven't had time to give that thought," Hoeneß bluntly admitted, "I won't be touching that this week. I've spoken to both [Müller and Bredlow] about it and told Flo [Müller] that my focus was on other things. He [Müller] took it well, which I thought was great. After Bochum, we'll reassess the situation."
Hoeneß also spoke on the absences of attackers Silas and Gil Dias in the recent Pokal fixture. Dias, Hoeneß revealed, didn't make the cut because he hadn't had enough time to observe the Portuguese winger in training. Silas actually picked up a knock in the final pre-match training session.
"I have my own plans with him," Hoeneß said of Silas, "He has qualities that we'll definitely need, potentially against Bochum. I just only saw him get injured in the one unit training session I had a chance to observe."
The return of Serhou Guirassy after a long injury layoff obviously constitutes huge news for the team's prospects in the relegation fight. The Swabians need their current leading goalscorer on the pitch if they're to stand any chance of avoiding the drop.
Guirassy once again entered in off the bench in the midweek match and made a huge impact. Hoeneß nevertheless labelled it doubtful that the Frenchman would be able to start this weekend.
"He was injured for a long time," Hoeneß said of the 27-year-old, "90 minutes seems to soon. I'll have to check with the medical department to see if he can handle a prolonged relief stint."