After the 0:5 against FC Bayern, Stuttgart want to ensure a conciliatory end to the first half of the season in Cologne on Sunday. Probably without Borna Sosa, but perhaps with Silas in the starting line-up.
For the past ten days, Sosa has been suffering from back problems that have spread to his leg muscles and knee. Hopes that the left-back would only be out of action for a short time have not been fulfilled. It will also be tight, very tight, for the match in Cologne. “He hasn’t joined training yet,” explains coach Pellegrino Matarazzo. “We’ll see how he gets back to strength in the next few days. There is a big question mark behind his deployment.”
Roberto Massimo, on the other hand, has one of the smaller ones. The outfielder, who suffered a capsule injury in his ankle in Wolfsburg, “is still in pain. We are trying to get him to develop a good feeling in training so he can be an option. “
While it is hardly likely that Sosa and Massimo will make it into the starting line-up on Sunday, it could be enough for Silas. Even if the VfB head coach still has slight doubts. “You have seen recently that something is still missing, energetically, tactically. But I don’t rule out him playing from the start. Let’s see how the next two days go and what impression he makes. But he still has to step it up a notch. “
Visa: Does Silas have to go home during the winter break?
Matarazzo is unable to comment on reports that the recovered attacker, who admitted to playing under a false identity in June, will have to travel to his native Congo during the now upcoming winter break to secure a valid visa. “I have heard about it. But nothing is confirmed yet, so I can’t say anything about if or how and when.” The Stuttgart foreigners authority has been dealing with the case of the VfB professional, who previously played as Silas Wamangituka and is actually called Silas Katompa Mvumpa, for months.
