Finn Jeltsch has had a busy year. Since joining VfB in February 2025, the 19-year-old has established himself as a Bundesliga regular, lifted the 2025 DFB Cup in Berlin, made his debut for Germany Under-21s and gained experience in the UEFA Europa League, where he is hoping to make many more appearances in the coming months. On Thursday, Jeltsch and his VfB Stuttgart teammates will be looking to confirm their place in the Europa League last 16 when they host Celtic FC in the return leg of their knockout round play-off. Before the game, Jeltsch shared his thoughts on the encounter with the Scottish side and the support of the VfB fans.
Hello Finn, last Thursday’s 4-1 win at Celtic has put us in a good position ahead of the second leg. How do you assess the situation?
Finn: “We’ve put ourselves in a good position, but it doesn’t guarantee our progression. We’ll have to work hard in the second leg too and approach the game as if it were still 0-0 on aggregate. I’m sure we’ll show the right mentality as a team once again.”
In your opinion, what was the key to victory at Celtic Park?
Finn: “We played with the right intensity and tenacity from the first minute. We were also very clinical in attack. It felt really good on the pitch, we enjoyed the game, everyone wanted to have the ball and we managed to remain compact after the equaliser.”
VfB defender Finn Jeltsch:
We’ll have almost 60,000 fans behind us for the home game, which is a big advantage for us.
Thousands of VfB fans made the trip to Glasgow, and the MHP Arena will be sold out for the second leg. Does that magnificent support give you an added advantage?
Finn: “It was impressive [in Glasgow]. We were prepared for it to be very loud at Celtic Park, but in the end it was the VfB fans and their singing that we could hear on the pitch. It definitely spurred us on. It was also really cool to be able to celebrate in front of such a packed away end on the European stage. We’re very grateful for the fans’ support. We’ll have almost 60,000 fans behind us for the home game, which is a big advantage for us.”
You’ve been in the starting XI in every Europa League game since Matchday 4. What do you like most about the competition?
Finn: “At my age, it’s just special to be able to soak up this European stage. I like playing against opponents and teams you don’t face very often. The circumstances are always different. Experiences like these help me develop.”