“We need to be ready for resistance and opposition”

Three days after the 3-1 defeat at SC Freiburg in their Bundesliga opener, VfB Stuttgart kick off their DFB Cup campaign at SC Preußen Münster. Head coach Sebastian Hoeneß is determined to “get a few things back on track” against the newly promoted Bundesliga 2 outfit, adding: “It’s good that we get to play again right away.”

Performing with the “right attitude” will be key on Tuesday, according to the VfB boss. “We need to be ready for resistance and opposition,” he continued. “Münster haven’t started particularly well in terms of their points haul, but they have played well. It could be an awkward game.”

Hoeneß confirmed on Monday that goalkeeper Alexander Nübel and centre-back Anrie Chase will start in Münster. “He did well in Freiburg and has earned our trust by making a good impression in recent weeks,” Hoeneß said of the Japanese U23 international. “He’s worked his way up through the ranks here at VfB and made big strides in his development.”

Deniz Undav’s workload is being monitored and won’t be named in the starting XI on Tuesday, but the striker will be in the squad. “There won’t be wholesale changes though,” added Hoeneß, who will be without Dan-Axel Zagadou, Nikolas Nartey, Josha Vagnoman, Luca Raimund, Leonidas Stergiou and Anthony Rouault. New signing El Bilal Toure, meanwhile, is still awaiting work and residence permit clearance.