Sebastian Hoeneß has confirmed a tactical change in VfB Stuttgart's defensive midfield ahead of the top match against Borussia Dortmund. Atakan Karazor will reclaim his role as the defensive anchor, the coach stated clearly on Friday.
"Ata was always a player who could provide that anchor. He will take up his role again, that is beyond question," said Hoeneß. This decision follows the 2-1 defeat to Hoffenheim, where VfB's defence, the fourth-weakest in the league, showed gaps again. The entire training week focused on transition play and securing depth.
Pressure on Stiller and Prömel
Karazor's return calls into question the established double pivot of Angelo Stiller and Grischa Prömel. Stiller suffered a knee bruise in the Hoffenheim match but is fit for Saturday's game (18:30). If he plays, Prömel will compete with Karazor for the second spot in defensive midfield. According to Hoeneß, Prömel currently has the edge. "We recently took a clear step forward." the coach analysed the qualities of the 25-year-old.
Hoeneß's team, currently 14th in the table with 3 points, faces third-placed BVB. The last five matches yielded three wins and two defeats (LWWLW). The full schedule of upcoming challenges is on our fixtures page. The defence must prove itself against the league's fourth-best attack. The last meeting in April ended in a 2-0 home defeat.
Hoeneß emphasised the aim is to achieve defensive stability through good structure without losing offensive potency. The return of the 29-year-old Karazor, a former captain, is intended to bring that balance. The match against Dortmund is the next test for a team that must find an answer after the disappointing loss in Hoffenheim.
The report in full is at Bild Sport
