Bosz ahead of Stuttgart game: ‘Give our answer on the pitch’

After the bitter disappointment on Tuesday night, when the Werkself went out of the DFB Cup at Rot Weiss Essen, the head coach, who described the defeat at the pre-match press conference ahead of the Stuttgart game as a “low point” of the season, was asked not just as the coach but also to a small extent as a psychologist for his players. “It was obviously a massive disappointment that we have to come to terms with. And the players also had to cope with 120 minutes on the heavy pitch. All our strength will be required against Stuttgart.”

Heads that were dropped have to be lifted again by Saturday afternoon at 15.30 CET at the latest, as a victory is a must after two Bundesliga defeats on the bounce to get back in the race for a Champions League finish. Who could be more appropriate opponents than Stuttgart as they have lost 36 times against the Werkself – more often than any other team. And the stats also show that Bayer 04 have only lost one the last seventeen Bundesliga meetings with the side from Swabia.

“Steer the team in the right direction”

“It’s my job as coach to steer the team in the right direction again. We have to give our answer on the pitch,” said Bosz. ”I try to give the team what they need. If there is pressure then they get some from me. But I can’t say the lads aren’t working hard – they always do. You have to analyse what the problem is from the start each and every time.”

At Essen on Tuesday it was converting chances. The Werkself created 27 goalscoring opportunities but the ball only ended up in the back of the net once. “Sometimes you just can’t explain it,” said the Dutchman. “At the start of the season, we’d only scored two goals in three games but then we put six past Nice. It’s easier when the first one goes in. And I’m confident it will happen against Stuttgart.” he believes.

However, Bosz will not underestimate the team lying twelfth in the league. As a newly promoted team, Stuttgart are having “a great season. They have young, talented players, pace and they are doing really well. It won’t be an easy game.”

Injury situation eases

In terms of personnel, it’s getting better week by week for the Werkself. After Exequiel Palacios played his first game after a long injury lay-off on Tuesday, Demarai Gray was the last of the three winter signings to start full training on Thursday. In addition, Sven Bender, who was back in the squad against Essen, is making ever greater progress. “More and more players are coming back and that means we will probably have a full squad at the weekend with 20 players on board,” Bosz announced.

Match information:

Broadcasters: Sky and Werks11 Radio (bayer04.de)
Referee: The match officials will be announced on the day of the game.