At VfB Stuttgart nobody wanted to be too happy after the clear 3-0 victory in the first leg of the relegation. Rather, the Swabians stacked deep and immediately focused on the second leg after the final whistle.
Chris Führich was one of the best Stuttgarters against Hamburger SV,
IMAGO/Press photo Baumann
It was an extremely confident performance that VfB Stuttgart put on in the first leg of the Bundesliga relegation against Hamburger SV. In the end there was a clear 3-0 victory, which could have been even better against Hamburg, who was decimated at the end. The Swabians were almost never in danger of conceding a goal against the North Germans – if you take a great chance from Robert Glatzel, which Florian Müller parried strongly once (58th). And that although HSV had scored 70 goals in the second division.
After the final whistle, however, everyone in Stuttgart was careful to emphasize that there was still a second leg in the Volksparkstadion on Monday (8.45 p.m.). The victory in the first leg is a “basis”, “a great prerequisite”, said one of the most conspicuous Stuttgarter Chris Führich on the “Sky” microphone. “We know that anything is possible in football, that’s why we stay focused.”
1-0 helped “break chains”
VfB also started the game “sharp” and were up 1-0 after less than a minute. “Of course, that thing in the first minute helps to loosen the chains and march straight away,” said Sebastian Hoeneß, pleased about the favorable course of the game.
But this was by no means luck, because the Swabians continued to dominate HSV and sometimes missed great opportunities, which is why Hoeneß spoke “only” of a “super performance” – and not of a perfect one: “If we speak of perfect, we have to take one more chance.”
Nevertheless, the coach, who had taken over Stuttgart in 18th place and almost even led to direct relegation, was very satisfied: “The lads presented themselves really well. We withstood the pressure and are happy that we were ahead at half-time.” There it was again: the thoughtful. There was something like a mantra, as everyone in Stuttgart always repeated, that the superior victory was not a decision.
More VfB goals were possible
Even after further goals, the Stuttgarters would probably have emphasized that there was still a second leg, that it was only halftime or that the game was “just” a great prerequisite. The Swabians simply lacked the coolness to score further goals this Thursday evening in their home arena – only Serhou Guirassy missed a free-standing goal in front of Daniel Heuer Fernandes and also missed a penalty. The goalscorer of the 1-0, Konstantinos Mavropanos, could have scored at least a brace.
In the majority, “mental components would also have shifted”, as Hoeneß noted: “We would have liked to have done the fourth, that would have helped us, but you have to make sure that you don’t collect any more.” In the final phase, even if there were more chances there, his team was too hectic – but in the end there was a clear victory that was never in jeopardy.
It was the clearest in a relegation first leg in 14 years (3-0 victory for 1. FC Nürnberg in Cottbus). In the opinion of the Stuttgart, however, only the basis, the lead at half-time or just a first step. “We have to do the next week next week,” demanded Waldemar Anton – and thus only let HSV dream of promotion to the Bundesliga.
2023-06-01 22:34:11
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