Sebastian Hoeneß on a rivalry between VfB Stuttgart and Bayer ...
Sebastian Hoeneß on a rivalry between VfB Stuttgart and Bayer Leverkusen: “Something has certainly developed”
VfB Stuttgart head coach Sebastian Hoeneß has addressed whether there is a potential rivalry growing between Bayer Leverkusen who they face on Friday evening.
On if Stuttgart and Leverkusen have become recent rivals, Hoeneß said:
“I wouldn’t be surprised if that were the case. Something has certainly developed. A healthy rivalry, because the games were on equal terms. With emotions that are surely still in the memory.”
Hoeneß then added:
“The games have always been great recently, with lots of emotion. You saw exactly what football is all about: good football, lots of intensity and fast play. In the end, it’s all about winning games like this for us. We’ll try to do that.”
Leverkusen head coach Xabi Alonso showed his respect towards Stuttgart in his press conference as well, labelling their games as “always very intense” and revealing “I’m exhausted after every game against Stuttgart”.
The games between Leverkusen and Stuttgart under Alonso and Hoeneß have always been entertaining. Die Werkself have only been able to beat Stuttgart once in normal time and that required a 90th minute winner from Jonathan Tah in the DFB Pokal last season.
Every other game has ended in a draw (1-1, 2-2 and 2-2) but while the most recent meeting ended in a draw, Leverkusen won the DFL Super Cup on penalties earlier this season. The game at the BayArena in August was the most heated game with Martin Terrier getting sent off on his debut as well as 11 yellow cards being distributed between the teams.
GGFN | Jack Meenan
