“We want to play to our limits”

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10 November 2023, 04:16 yayınlandı

VfB Stuttgart may once again be without striker Serhou Guirassy when they host fourth-placed Borussia Dortmund on Bundesliga Matchday 11. “Serhou completed parts of training today but hasn’t yet managed to take part in a full session,” head coach Sebastian Hoeneß said on Thursday. “We’ll need to wait until Friday’s session [before making a decision]. He could be back just in time for Saturday.”

Pascal Stenzel is another doubt ahead of the meeting with the defender’s former employers. “Pascal returned to full training today,” Hoeneß revealed. “He isn’t at 100 per cent yet. We’ll have to wait and see if he’s fit enough.” Josha Vagnoman, meanwhile, has come through training unscathed this week and is expected to be available.

Dan-Axel Zagadou is also set to face his former club this weekend. Hoeneß was full of praise for the centre-back, telling the assembled media: “I don’t need to ask him if he’s motivated or not. Daxo is resilient and plays on a regular basis. He’s incredible in the air and, despite his height, good on the ground in terms of his coordination and build-up play. Off the pitch, I’ve come to know him as a very open, likeable and positive person who is great fun to work with.”

Dortmund bounced back from last weekend’s 4-0 home defeat by Bayern Munich with a 2-0 victory over Newcastle United in the Champions League. “I wasn’t surprised that they delivered such a good response,” said Hoeneß. “Dortmund are top of a difficult Champions League group and have been consistent in the league, notwithstanding last weekend. I’m expecting to face opponents who want to head into the international break with a victory.

“Dortmund like to have the ball and will put us under pressure. We need a good mindset in order to overcome certain situations as a team, be confident on the ball and get into spaces. It’s going to be a challenge, but we believe we can get a result at home. We want to play to our limits.”