Bundesliga: VfB conundrum continues – result after trip to USA

Will interim coach Michael Wimmer become head coach? Will sporting director Sven Mislindt extend his contract, which expires in the summer? Many questions remained unanswered at VfB Stuttgart – until mid-November.

Lost – but still celebrated. Without the long-awaited victory, Michael Wimmer received a lot of applause. Although the interim coach of VfB Stuttgart could not gather more arguments for the permanent post of head coach in the 0: 2 (0: 1) match at Leverkusen, he is still very popular in the appendix.

But even clear fan votes didn’t drag Alexander Werle out of his presence. “He did a good job throughout the games,” said the CEO, praising the football coach’s work so far but postponing a decision on his future: “We agreed that – regardless of the outcome of the game – we will take care. Put the trip to America together and make a decision later.”

Speech at the end of November

That means the weeks-long Swabian conjecture will end only after the November 14-21 trip to the US, which is part of the DFL’s internationalization strategy – not only in terms of working with Wimmer, but also with Sven Mislintat. It remains to be seen whether the sporting director will extend his contract, which expires in the summer. “We have been talking to each other for a few weeks. We have time for final negotiations after the trip,” said Wehrle, who is said to have a strained relationship with Mislindat.

Misslindad didn’t hide her frustration at the weeks-long delay tactics: “The whole process plays into these talks,” she declared, adding, “I’ve always been willing to talk, and I’ve always insisted that I work with every budget. It doesn’t matter how high he is.”

Wehrle decided not to travel as a member of the DFB delegation to the opening game of the World Cup in Qatar, given the continuing backlash in decision-making. “VfB has priority now,” commented the 47-year-old.

“Feeling Here, Feeling There”

Coach Wimmer did not specify which direction the talks might go. “Feeling here, feeling here. Now we fly to America, then we’ll sit and see what comes of it,” said the Pellegrino-Matarazzo successor, who celebrated four wins in seven competitive games. However, he left no doubt about his desire for permanent promotion: “I’ve never hidden that my goal is to one day work as a head coach.”

There are currently no similar disruptive discussions about management personnel at Bayer Leverkusen. Because after the debut of new coach Xabi Alonso on October 5th, things are improving significantly. With the last three wins against Union Berlin (5-0), Cologne (2-1) and Stuttgart, his side have struggled from the relegation zone to the midfield.

Thanks to goals from Moussa Diaby (30th minute) and Jonathan Tah (82nd), Bayer recorded ten points out of a possible twelve and scored 13 goals in four Bundesliga home games under Alonso. “I am very happy with nine points in an English week,” commented the Spaniard, “but he is not satisfied with jumping to eleventh place: it is not enough, I want a little more.”