Sebastian Hoeneß reaffirms commitment to Stuttgart, comments on UCL qualification
The 41-year-old also commented on the curious manner in which his team qualified for the 2024/25 Champions League without having to expend any more effort. Hoeneß stressed that his team still wished to "earn" fourth place.
Stuttgart face Bayern this weekend.
fB Stuttgart trainer Sebastian Hoeneß sought to immediately put to rest any rumors that he might be in the running for FC Bayern München's vacant head-coaching position following Ralf Rangnick's refusal to take on the job earlier today. Despite the fact that Hoeneß signed a recent contract extension with Stuttgart, it has been widely rumored that the 41-year-old's new deal contains an exit clause.
Some in German footballing circles have speculated that, had Stuttgart failed to qualify for the Champions' League, Hoeneß would have been much more amendable to joining the club which gave him his first head-coaching position (the FCB II). The VfB trainer himself made it a point to emphasize that he would be delaying celebrations with the Stuttgart fans until after UCL qualification had been secured.
As it turned out, Stuttgart were assured of a 2024/25 Champions' League berth in what Germans refer to as "sofa style" last night. Borussia Dortmund's home win over PSG bumped up the UEFA Coefficient to an arithmetic level that ensured the Bundesliga of five UCL slots. Stuttgart - who can not statistically finish lower than fifth - are headed to Europe's Premier club tournament competition.
"Strange that it was decided that way," Hoeneß noted at his Thursday pre-match presser, "We're no longer under huge pressure, but will be putting ourselves under huge pressure. We want to finish fourth so that we can say that we did it on our own."
"Nothing has changed," Hoeneß remarked when asked if Rangick's refusal placed him back in the running for the FCB trainer job, "You can be absolutely sure that I will be the coach of VfB Stuttgart next year. If I had entertained any thoughts of switching, I wouldn't have extended my contract."
Hoeneß' words can likely be trusted as the gaffer did reveal that he, his team, and his staff listening to the Champions' League hymn in the VfB locker room prior to the morning training session. Hoeneß noted that he and his staff were already getting excited looking at the draw pots.
"It's amazing to see the clubs we'll be up against," Hoeneß said, "Playing against Real Madrid would really be something special."