As reported by Kicker, ahead of VfB Stuttgart’s first training session CEO Alexander Wehrle has emphasised the importance of staying in the Bundesliga due to their poor financial situation.
The message to the new head coach Bruno Labbadia is clear from his bosses. Be pragmatic and by all means avoid relegation from the Bundesliga. Labbadia finds Stuttgart in 16th position and one point ahead of 17th.
Wehrle didn’t mix his words when he explained: “relegation in 2023 would not be comparable to 2016 and 2019.” VfB already faces losses of “90 million due to the corona pandemic and an investment of 130 million euros for the stadium conversion.” Relegation in 2023 would add a further €40m loss in revenue.
Having played for and managed several clubs in Germany, Labbadia is going to have to draw on his own experiences to get Stuttgart out of danger. By the words used by Wehrle, it’s doubtful that the club has extra money to spend on reinforcements. Instead, Labbadia will have to use the players already at his disposal and hope he can motivate them to secure Bundesliga football again next season.
GGFN | Jamie Allen