VfB Stuttgart enters the new Bundesliga season without transfer pressure. Sporting director Fabian Wohlgemuth made it clear at the first training session: „We have neither action pressure nor sale pressure.“ The team managed by Sebastian Hoeneß completed fitness diagnostics on Monday and Tuesday and held its first team training with the ball on Wednesday in front of 1,000 spectators - more were not allowed for organizational reasons. With 62 points and 18 wins from 34 games, VfB currently sits in 4th place in the Bundesliga, 27 points behind Bayern Munich, and has already scored 71 goals while conceding 49 (+22 goal difference) this season.
What did the sporting director say?
Wohlgemuth remains calm during the transfer window. „We won’t rush anything,“ he said, adding that the club is closely monitoring the market. The 47-year-old instead focuses on squad development: „We’ve done well by not broadcasting our targets. We want to live up to our ambitions and let the group grow.“ The club has kept its season targets under wraps, prioritizing teamwork. VfB has won just one of its last five matches (form: LLDDW) and lost its last two, including a 0:3 defeat to Bayern Munich on May 23, 2026.
Who is still missing from training?
Seven VfB players who featured at the World Cup are not yet fully integrated. This includes German internationals Deniz Undav, Jamie Leweling and Angelo Stiller. Captain Atakan Karazor missed the session due to Turkey’s World Cup prep but wasn’t selected for the tournament. Lorenz Assignon is still working individually after shoulder surgery, while Ramon Hendriks and Jeff Chabot focused on solo drills. Hoeneß is gradually bringing key players back to boost team performance.
What’s next for VfB Stuttgart?
The next fixture is on August 1, 2026 - a home game against Paris FC in pre-season. Until then, the focus remains on fitness and tactics. Wohlgemuth’s approach: „If the group shows it’s willing to work at the highest level, success will follow automatically.“ After a mixed second half of the season, the team still has ground to make up. But with a squad slowly coming together, VfB Stuttgart aims to close the gap to the top - currently 27 points behind Bayern - and secure a Champions League spot in the coming months.
