'Guardiola always asks me about Badstuber'
VfB Stuttgart sporting director Michael Reschke says that Pep Guardiola always asks him about Holger Badstuber when the two speak.
When Pep Guardiola coached Bayern München from 2013 to 2016, he often waxed lyrical about Holger Badstuber and once said that the centre-back is "perhaps the best footballer I've ever seen when it comes to build-up play."
Unfortunately, Guardiola, who left Bayern to join Manchester City in 2016, was never able to use Badstuber as much as he wanted to at Bayern, because the defender was hit by one serious injury after another. In 2017, Badstuber left Bayern to join VfB Stuttgart on a one-year deal, and yesterday he extended his contract until 2021.
Stuttgart sporting director Michael Reschke used to work as technical director at Bayern while Guardiola was there, and the two have stayed in touch. When they talk, the Manchester City manager always asks about Badstuber, Reschke says.
"When I talk to Pep Guardiola, he always starts by asking me about Holger Badstuber. He is enthusiastic about the development that Holger has made at VfB in the recent months. Holger Badstuber was on his way to becoming one of the best center-backs in the world before the difficult phase in his career," Reschke told vfb.de and added:
"Last season, and especially in the strong second half of the season, he was crucial, and we are convinced that Holger is on his way back to the absolute top class."
Badstuber, 29, made 28 appearances for Stuttgart last season.
