The outgoing VfB CEO Thomas Hitzlsperger has defended Stuttgart’s sports director Sven Mislintat against criticism.
“There is no one-man show at VfB,” said the 39-year-old former international of the German Press Agency before the away game at TSG 1899 Hoffenheim on Friday (8:30 p.m. / DAZN): “Maybe the wrong impression is created because Sven is often the first to stand up and speak after the game. He turns himself in. We have a clear division there, »said the former VfB professional: « The derivation that it is a one-man show is simply wrong. »
Mislintat has his “100 percent support”. The composition of the squad was also decided together. The Swabian Bundesliga soccer club relies on a particularly young team and has also come under criticism for this reason. “I was present at every discussion, so I support everything. It is a bold path that we believe in. We don’t turn back when things don’t work out that way,” said Hitzlsperger.
VfB Stuttgart, second to last in the table, is currently deep in the relegation battle. “It will remain exhausting, let’s not fool ourselves,” said Hitzlsperger: “But the goal of staying up is a realistic goal.” Even in the event of relegation, coach Pellegrino Matarazzo is “absolutely” the right coach for the Swabians. Hitzlsperger himself will be replaced as CEO at VfB in a few weeks by Alexander Wehrle. (dpa)