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Professionals, 17. August 2018

"Every player is a candidate for the starting eleven"

VfB Stuttgart will play their first competitive game of the 2018/2019 campaign in Rostock. In the first-round of the DFB-Cup, VfB face third division F.C. Hansa Rostock.

With masses of anticipation and “all of our energy”, VfB head coach Tayfun Korkut and his men will catch a charter flight north to Rostock on Friday. At FC Hansa, the side in the shirts with the infamous hoop will have “a real knock-out match” in the first-round of the DFB Cup on Saturday evening (20:45 CEST).

For the 44-year-old, the clash under the floodlights in the 'Ostseestadion' cannot be taken seriously enough: "We all know how these cup games can go. You’ve got just 90 minutes – maybe a couple more." The coach went on to describe the pitfalls of the competition: "You must display the necessary willingness and attentiveness. In the cup, you don’t get a second chance to put things right."

"Improved on our width and density"

With two days to go until the competitive action begins, the coach had “only good tidings” in regard to the personnel situation. Everyone is highly motivated, giving their all and are naturally determined to claim a starting eleven spot. "We have approved upon our width and density further still. “That naturally increases the battle for places and provides the trainer team with additional options. "Every player is touting himself and is a candidate for the starting eleven. I have no problems selecting any one of them from the outset."

Ten days after his premature return from his World Cup holidays, Benjamin Pavard is also one of those candidates: "Although he’s only been in training again for a week, he has been making a very good impression. The current depth within the squad is the “ideal situation” for the coach, who hasn’t settled his starting eleven just yet.