Pellegrino Matarazzo quietly enjoyed the special moment from a safe distance. The head coach of VfB Stuttgart stood on the pitch and watched as his players stood in a row, held hands and, together with the most loyal fans in the Cannstatt curve, appropriately hilariously celebrated the amazing and thrilling 3:2 against Borussia Mönchengladbach with the La- Ola wave celebrated. Once, twice, three times the hands of the sweaty woman jerked up.
Such pictures as on Saturday evening had not been seen in the Stuttgart Arena for a long time. On the one hand, because the supporters were not allowed into the stadium for a long time due to the pandemic. On the other hand, because VfB had recently finished five home games without a win. It was even the first success after nine games without a win, and the first this year.
Matarazzo merely clapped his hands softly as he stood behind his players, stroking his chin with his left hand on the way into the dressing room, like a brainwashed professor trying to find a good idea for his problem. Maybe the American was already thinking about the next game at Union Berlin. The season isn’t over yet, VfB is far from staying in the league.
leave the negative behind
On the contrary: Nine games are still to come and the Swabians are still in a relegation zone. One point is missing for the relegation place, where Hertha BSC is, three points are for Bielefeld and the first non-relegation place. “We played very well. That can do something with a team,” said Matarazzo, “if you turn a game and still win after being 2-0 down.”
After thinking for a second or two, he added: “But there aren’t more than three points.” However, the 44-year-old hopes that his players will now put everything negative behind them, all the frustration with the late goals conceded in added time against Bochum and in Hoffenheim and have finally processed the necessary points to secure another season in the Bundesliga.
In the game against Gladbach, who were also in trouble, the whole tragedy of Stuttgart was revealed in this round. The team started briskly again, combined very quickly and handsomely through midfield and, above all, had the best chances through Borna Sosa and Tiago Tomás. But Borussia took the lead through a wonderfully played goal by Alassane Pléa (14th). VfB wasn’t impressed at first, he just kept going and continued to disrupt Gladbach early on – but Borussia scored the next goal again through Marcus Thuram (35′).
It wasn’t a well-played goal that brought VfB back into the game, but an unsuccessful attempt by Gladbach’s Ramy Bensebaini to clear the ball. His ball landed at the feet of VfB captain Wataru Endo, and his shot finally found its way over Nico Elvedi’s leg (38′). “What was decisive today was that we finally took advantage of our chances,” said Pellegrino.
Consistency in the coaching position
That was only half the truth, although Chris Führich (51st) scored to make it 2-2 and Sasa Kalajdzic (83rd) to make it 3-2, but in between Tomas could have calmed Matarazzo’s nerves earlier when he shot his free-standing volley failed to get past Gladbach goalkeeper Yann Sommer. As the winner of the game, Tomas’ missed huge chances can of course be smiled at, as Matarazzo confirmed. Tomas is a “super boy” with a “great character,” said the coach. The 19-year-old came to him after the game and said “that he now owes him two goals”.
The fact that the players continue to trust Matarazzo despite the many lost games is shown in this scene and in VfB’s passionate performance, which at times showed off the oddly inhibited Gladbacher in the second half. Kalajdzic confessed that they played themselves “into a flow”. Of course, Thomas Hitzlsperger, who spoke of a phenomenal performance, also liked that.
After the win against Gladbach, the soon-to-be-resigned CEO of VfB also praised himself a bit by announcing that he and sporting director Sven Mislintat always publicly supported the coach in the face of criticism. “Rino always stayed calm and analyzed everything well,” said Hitzlsperger in the “Sportstudio”. The many changes of coach would have harmed the club in the past. “Today was proof again that the coach’s personality suits VfB.”
Hitzlsperger added that he was confident that VfB would quickly get out of the bottom. Cem Özdemir is also convinced of staying in the league, the Federal Minister of Agriculture is an ardent VfB fan. On Saturday evening, however, he left the Stuttgart jersey at home, although VfB started with a new jersey that sets standards in terms of sustainability, it consists of one hundred percent recycled textiles. But the Greens politician preferred to wear the yellow jersey of the Ukrainian national team. A silent sign of solidarity. The minister said: “The struggle of the people in Ukraine, they do not fight it alone.”
