Three Stuttgart players in quarantine
The specter of the global pandemic's third wave continues to haunt German football. VfB Stuttgart head-coach Pellegrino Matarazzo confirmed on Tuesday that Nicolas Gonzalez, Marcin Kaminski, and Lilian Egloff are in precautionary quarantine.
The trio are classified as category-one contacts in a positive case originating at the club's rehabilitation facilities. Thus far, all three players have tested negative for COVID.
Two of the three Stuttgart footballers currently at home in domestic quarantine have not featured on the pitch for the Swabians in quite some time. Striker Nicolas Gonzalez and midfielder Lilian Egloff find themselves in isolation after a positive test in Stuttgart's rehabilitation facility necessitated it. Of some concern, Marcin Kaminski is the third player. The Polish defender started and played 85 minutes in Saturday's 1-2 loss to Union Berlin.
The trio are classified as category-one contacts in a positive case originating at the club's rehabilitation facilities. Thus far, all three players have tested negative for COVID.
"One is really starting to worry," VfB trainer Pellegrino Matarazzo reflectively remarked at his Tuesday presser, "We're already doing a lot, wearing masks, keeping our distance, and testing every day. The entire squad has been put on high alert. Nothing more can be done."
Following last week's outbreak in the Hertha BSC camp, a legitimate source of apprehension remains that the completion of the season will be placed in jeopardy if another Bundesliga team is forced into quarantine. Matarazzo did his level best to keep the focus of the press conference on the upcoming match against Wolfsburg, speaking to the motivation his team should have to play the next opponent.
"If I were a player, I'd be psyched for this match," the American head-coach commented, "We can measure ourselves against a top team in the league. If that's not impetus enough for a team in it's first Bundesliga season than I don't know what is."
Unfortunately for Stuttgart, its supplier of deadly crosses from the left flank will once again have to sit this one out. Borna Sosa's knee capsule injury has shown no signs of improvement. Matarazzo confirmed that the Croatian international would be unavailable for at least "another two weeks."