Wohlgemuth backs Labbadia to remain in charge: “Not up for discussion.”

Both the head-coach and sporting director of the Bundesliga’s new last-placed team downplayed any talk of a course correction following Saturday’s loss. 

The relatively newly-hired duo of Bruno Labbadia and Fabian Wohlgemuth had some hard fact to face on Saturday. The pairing designated to help VfB Stuttgart avoid relegation during the winter World Cup break are now presiding over the Bundesliga’s last-placed team. After a big win against Köln on matchday 21, the Württembergers have only managed a single point.

“We didn’t get to the ball in the first-half,” Labbadia remarked in his post-match interview with Sky Germany, “[VfL Wolfsburg trainer] Niko [Kovac] did a good job drilling his team. We were more courageous in the second half, but lacked the necessary punch.”

Labbadia was then asked about his status.

“Insofar as my job is concerned, I’m not thinking about that,” the 57-year-old answered.

VfB sporting director Fabian Wohlgemuth, himself brought in only shortly after Labbadia, confirmed that the front office was entertaining no thoughts of bringing in a second “Feuerwehrmann”,the German word for a coach tasked with “putting out fires” at a relegation-threatened club.

“The coaching question is not up for discussion,” Wohlgemuth noted in his own post-match interview, “It’s unfortunate for Bruno heading into the international break. The last few performances have been largely okay, even if the results aren’t good.”

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