Bruno Labbadia is the coach of VfB Stuttgart for the second time. Image: dpa / Christoph Schmidt
Bundesliga
There is only one goal for VfB Stuttgart in the coming year: somehow stay in the league. In order for this to succeed, the club bosses brought back Bruno Labbadia, who was the Swabian coach from 2010 to 2013.
Under the 56-year-old, VfB even made it into the DFB Cup final. VfB is currently in relegation place 16, just one point ahead of VfL Bochum.
When he was introduced as the new coach, he made it clear what he felt the team was missing. “If you look at the preliminary round, we just ran less than many of our opponents. We have to use this phase now that we have the reserves later in April or May to be able to keep up.”
Running sessions were the main focus for the VfB pros in the first week. But regardless of the physical deficits, the Stuttgart team wants to strengthen their squad. And they want to access a direct competitor, of all things.
Guilavogui and Labbadia have appreciated each other for years
Because according to the “Kicker” the Swabians should be very interested in Joshua Guilavogui from VfL Wolfsburg. The 32-year-old and the new coach have known and appreciated each other for years. The Frenchman was a regular player during Labbadia’s time at VfL Wolfsburg and was even captain in his second year.
Above all, the coach should appreciate the straightness in the game, the leadership qualities and the Bundesliga experience. After the recent 3-0 friendly defeat against FC Luzern, Labbadia criticized that the Stuttgart game lacked structure. Guilavogui, who joined VfL in 2014 but no longer plays a major role under Niko Kovac, could solve this problem.
The first talks are said to have already taken place and the 20-time French national player is not averse. “We appreciate each other very much,” he said of the relationship with Labbadia. He tried to sign the midfielder during his time as a Hertha coach, but failed.
Joshua Guilavogui celebrates a goal.Image: dpa / Swen gatekeeper
In Stuttgart he could then relieve midfield engine and captain Wataru Endō. The 29-year-old World Cup participant could also move up a position and thus make even better use of his constantly flashing goal threat.
Also under Labbadia Endō will play a decisive role in the fight for relegation for VfB.
Financially, Stuttgart must hope for Wolfsburg and Guilavogui
The only question is whether the cash-strapped Swabians can afford Guilavogui at all. According to “Kicker”, the talks have so far been rather difficult.
The midfielder’s contract does not expire until the summer of 2023, but VfB hope that Wolfsburg will let the player go on a free transfer in the winter.
In addition, the Swabians cannot pay the same salary as the Lower Saxony. In this case, the player would have to accommodate the club.
But even if a change does not come about, one thing is clear. Despite low financial resources, VfB wants to strengthen itself once again in central midfield. The performances of the other central midfielders so far have not been convincing enough.
It was the World Cup final where really anything could have happened. While Lionel Messi finally crowned himself with the long-awaited World Cup after 17 years of hard work with the national team, the French team, headed by Didier Deschamps, were bent on defending their title.
