Michael Wimmer is not thinking any further than the important game against Bochum. The interim coach wants to shake up the Stuttgart team. He found the farewell to Pellegrino Matarazzo emotional.
Stuttgart (dpa / lsw) – Michael Wimmer was immediately in his element. “It is important that we manage to create an atmosphere and conviction together with our fans that we can win the game,” said the interim coach of VfB Stuttgart one day before the game against VfL Bochum on Saturday (3:30 p.m./ skies). After several games “at eye level”, but a total of nine matchdays without a win in the Bundesliga, it’s about “that we get the momentum on our side.” The 42-year-old wants to shake up VfB emotionally – and after the weak start to the season in the so important duel between the penultimate table and the bottom, now finally initiate the turnaround.
For Wimmer himself, who characterizes himself as “joyful, positive and ambitious”, it is clear that he is only looking after the Swabians as a temporary and not as a long-term solution. There is a “very clear agreement” with sports director Sven Mislintat and the club, “that I will do this until a new coach is here,” said the previous assistant coach. He “only has the Bochum game on his mind.” Mislintat informed him on Thursday that he would be on the bench against VfL, Wimmer said. Everything else, the subsequent games in the second round of the DFB Cup against Arminia Bielefeld on Wednesday and in the league at Borussia Dortmund next weekend, for example, are not on his mind at the moment.
VfB parted ways with Pellegrino Matarazzo on Monday and have not presented a new head coach yet. “These were really turbulent and emotional days,” admitted Wimmer, who had also worked at 1. FC Nürnberg at the same time as Matarazzo. The players were also “emotionally affected” by the Italian-American’s release, according to the interim coach. During the first training session afterwards on Tuesday, they were “depressed”. “The team is unsettled,” he reported. He was therefore also concerned with “getting a certain looseness in.” About forms of play in training, for example. In order to gain more security in front of the gate, more and more degrees were practiced.
It cannot be assumed that Wimmer will change the tactics of Stuttgart against Bochum. It’s not about “craving to do anything differently,” he said. In terms of personnel, however, the Bavarian is forced to make two changes. Striker Serhou Guirassy and midfielder Atakan Karazor are suspended. Silas Katompa Mvumpa, Luca Pfeiffer or Juan José Perea could move up front for Guirassy, ??Wimmer listed. In the absence of Karazor, young Nikolas Nartey, captain Wataru Endo or defender Waldemar Anton, who can play against VfL despite a laceration on his head against Union Berlin (0-1) are possible options on the six.
“Extremely important” is the game on Saturday, emphasized Wimmer. “But I think it would be premature to talk about a fateful game or a final.” As great as the Swabians’ longing for the first win of the season and their need in the table are.
