After the upcoming trip to the USA, VfB Stuttgart wants to clarify the future of sporting director Mislintat and interim coach Wimmer. But these are not the only construction sites of the club.
Leverkusen/Stuttgart (dpa/lsw) – After all, after weeks of speculation and unanswered questions, those responsible at VfB Stuttgart want to clarify – albeit only after November 21. Then the Bundesliga club, which is in danger of relegation, will return from its PR trip in the USA and CEO Alexander Wehrle will clarify their still open future with sports director Sven Mislintat and interim coach Michael Wimmer. “We said: After the USA, there are decisions and then we have the time to finally negotiate,” said Wehrle on Saturday on Sky.
The uncertainty at the sporting management level that has persisted for weeks is contrasted by the mixed performances of the team. After the 0: 2 (0: 1) at Bayer Leverkusen at the end of the first phase of the season before the World Cup break, VfB is 16th in the table. still in the relegation battle. Before the restart on January 21 at home against Mainz 05, the coach – whoever it will be – has a lot to do in any case to prevent Stuttgart’s third relegation in six years. What’s next?
The CEO: Returned from 1. FC Köln to the Neckar in the spring with great advance praise, Wehrle’s image has suffered with the signing of former world champions Sami Khedira and Philipp Lahm and former captain Christian Gentner as the future head of the licensed players department. Because the personal details were obviously not agreed with Mislintat. Their relationship seems strained. Wehrle has now canceled his trip to the World Cup opening game as a member of a DFB delegation in order to be able to concentrate fully on personal matters at VfB. “That’s priority now.” Why it hasn’t already, given the fact that Mislintat’s contract expires in June 2023, is unclear. In Leverkusen, too, Wehrle refused to answer the question of whether he was clearly planning the future with the 50-year-old. It remains to be seen what role Khedira, who is obviously influential at Wehrle, will play in the decision.
The sports director: After starting in Stuttgart in April 2019, Mislintat quickly gained a very good reputation as a manager. In particular, the commitment of ex-head coach Pellegrino Matarazzo in January 2020 and some newcomers such as Wataru Endo, Silas, Konstantinos Mavropanos or the goalscorer Sasa Kalajdzic, who has meanwhile moved to England, have made Borussia Dortmund’s “diamond eye” extremely popular with VfB fans . On the other hand, there are a number of failed transfers of young talents and other players – and the bad standings. However, Mislintat can also point out that the loss of substance due to the financially necessary departures of some top performers was considerable. However, the size of the budget has no influence on his own decision as to where he wants to work in the future.
The coach: Won three home games, lost three away games, plus the 6-0 win against Arminia Bielefeld in the DFB Cup: interim coach Michael Wimmer’s record is not bad. “He won all home games, that’s a clear sign. Looking beyond the games, he did a good job,” Wehrle said when asked whether Wimmer would be promoted to head coach on a permanent basis or whether a new coach would come from outside during the winter break. Mislintat thinks Wimmer did it “outstandingly” given the difficult situation. In terms of play, the team has hardly developed under the 42-year-old. “I’ve never made a secret of the fact that my goal is to work as a head coach at some point,” said Wimmer himself.
The team: Three home wins under Wimmer stand out positively, on the other hand VfB did not manage an away win in the entire calendar year 2022. In addition, the squad lacks a real playmaker and one or two leading players. There is speculation as to whether another top-class player will be sold in the form of Croatian World Cup participant Borna Sosa. On Monday, the team will go to the USA for a week without the World Cup drivers and four other professionals as part of the DFL’s internationalization strategy. In Austin/Texas, VfB will be testing against 1. FC Köln next Saturday (10 p.m./Sky). Training will then start on December 12th.
