The VfB storm has been a mild breeze lately and has been without a goal for five games. That’s why VfB is pinning all its hopes on a trio: Silas Katompa Mvumpa (23), Sasa Kalajdzic (24) and Chris Führich (24).
VfB sports director Sven Mislintat (49) to BILD: “It makes a difference when you have Sasa, Silas and Chris on the pitch. That has seldom been the case so far.” This season, the VfB attacking trio have only been on the pitch together for 25 minutes.
Before the home game against Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday (3:30 p.m. / Sky), BILD explains how fit Silas, Kalajdzic and Führich are now.
► Silas: After a cruciate ligament tear, corona and angina, Silas notices the lack of match practice, running paths and coordination do not yet fit. Mislintat: “Our goal is that we build it up for 60 minutes and then increase it.”
Coach Pellegrino Matarazzo (44): “Silas worked a lot in the training camp. He hasn’t had those tempo changes in his game yet, but that’s normal after this week.” Fitness: 70 percent
► Kalajdzic: As BILD learned, five months after his shoulder surgery, the striker still has minor problems with his joint. Kalajdzic was rested in the test against Rostow (2-1) and is set against Frankfurt. Matarazzo says: “If it had been a Bundesliga game, he would have played.” Fitness: 90 percent
► Führich: The model professional recovered quickly after his corona infection. Führich lives extremely professionally, also eats vegan. The result: he was always in the VfB starting XI in the second half of the season.
Mislintat: “Chris is getting close to 100 percent again after Corona, you can see that in his mileage. We need to have him in the processes longer because he’s still a newcomer.” Fitness: 95 percent
