The VfB offensive is stuck. Pellegrino Matarazzo is working with his team on the necessary improvement of the attacking actions and at the same time is happy about the reunion with the sorely missed Silas.
From the DFB Sports Court’s point of view, Silas Katompa Mvumpa would have served his three-month ban for unsporting behaviour after he made it public that he had played under a false name (Silas Wamangituka). But the VfB attacker, who turns 23 on 6 October, is still rehabilitating from a cruciate ligament injury. This week, the Congolese shifted his rehabilitation programme onto the pitch for the first time, albeit individually for the time being, and was greeted with applause by mates and colleagues.
Which not only went to the coach’s heart. “A nice moment,” says Pellegrino Matarazzo, who was happy to “see his smiling face. It was good for everyone.” How long Silas will be out for, he says, is impossible to predict with any accuracy. “There are stages he has to go through according to the rehab coaches,” Matarazzo tells us. “Once he has gone through one, it’s on to the next. I’m not involved in the details of what that looks like in terms of timing. I get the players when they are ready for partial training. “
Only then is narrowing down a comeback time frame possible, he said. “At some point, he will be able to join in training as a wall player or an over-the-top player, and then he will be introduced to duels peu á peu. But it will certainly take a few more weeks before he can take the next steps in team training.” Until then – currently November is always mentioned as the earliest date – Stuttgart will have to manage without their goal-scoring winger.
Matarazzo: “We have stabilised defensively “
In preparation for the match against Hoffenheim (Saturday, 15.30, LIVE! on kicker), the team continued to work on the problem areas of the VfB game. “We had a short week with a lot of content, taught a lot with videos,” reports Matarazzo, who is not dissatisfied despite all – also justified – criticism. “We have stabilised defensively in the past three games. Now it’s a question of doing the same offensively. If we keep working like this, we will see different times.”
Preferably already against Hoffenheim. “They are a team with a strong game and offensive quality, with a good mix of pace and ball security,” said the VfB coach. “They hit a lot of crosses and can still also develop a lot of danger through the centre. It’s up to us to call up our defensive qualities and then also get into the game offensively.” Even if without Silas for the time being.
