Stuttgart’s Sebastian Hoeneß recalls pivotal 2023 relegation matches against Hamburg ahead of weekend Bundesliga encounter | OneFootball

VfB Stuttgart head coach Sebastian Hoeneß took an opportunity to stroll down memory lane when conducting his pre-match press conference ahead of this weekend’s Bundesliga fixture against Hamburg. Hoeneß’ Swabians are hoping to bounce back after a highly disappointing loss against top four rivals Borussia Dortmund last week. 

The assignment ahead actually remains a tough one. Hamburg actually beat Stuttgart 2-1 at home in the season’s reverse fixture. Merlin Polzin’s Hamburger SV (on 31 points) are close to attaining the generally accepted “Bundesliga safety threshold” of 35 points.

HSV remain the underdogs (and will be without talismanic defender Luke Vuskovic). Hoeneß, looking at the task ahead, reached back for special memory about facing the HSV. A true turning point in Hoeneß’ coaching career came almost precisely three years ago. 

Stuttgart and Hamburg’s “Destiny Match”

Sebastian Hoeneß assumed the helm at Stuttgart in the spring of 2023. The Württemberger had already cycled through two coaches – Pellegrino Matarazzo and Bruno Labbadia – during that exceedingly difficult 2022/23 Bundesliga campaign. Matarazzo had helped Stuttgart only narrowly avoid the promotion-relegation playoffs the year prior. 

Hoeneß couldn’t avoid the playoffs at the end of his first season in charge of the Württembürger. Stuttgart’s opponents were none other than Hamburg, who had lost their two-legged playoff tie against Hertha BSC the year prior. HSV desperately craved a return to the Bundesliga after suffering their first ever relegation at the end of the 2017/18 season. 

Hoeneß men hosted the first leg of the playoffs, making a grand statement by scoring a goal less than one minute after the opening match kicked off. Konstantinos Mavropanos’ 1-0 rattled the guests and the south Germans would go on to comfortably take the first match 3-0. HSV were easily defeated 6-1 on aggregate. 

Hoeneß would then lead Stuttgart to a second place finish and a historic Champions League berth during the subsequent 2023/24 Bundesliga campaign. Hamburg, meanwhile, would have to wait two more years to finally attain promotion back to the Bundesliga. It was such that HSV’s defeat of Stuttgart earlier this year was all the more sweeter for the Hanseatic city state club. 

Hoeneß speaks on Hamburg memories

“Of course, we haven’t forgotten about it,” Hoeneß said of the upset loss earlier this season. “But it’s not as if we have a brutal thirst for revenge. That’s way too exaggerated. We still recall it as a tough result because it was a match that we were sure would end in a win or draw.“

“That’s a nice memory as we got it done in the end,” Hoeneß responded when asked about the 2022/23 promotion relegation playoff. “The way we got it done was pretty impressive and quite important for us. We faced the pressure together and absolutely deserved it.

“That home match was great,” Hoeneß continued. “I’ll never forget when Dinos Mavropanos scored that opening goal with a header.. The stadium exploded. It was crazy. That was an important early breakthrough in that game.

“We did well in Hamburg too,” Hoeneß concluded. “That’s what ultimately laid the groundwork for the things [the 2023/24 accomplishments] that were to come.“

GGFN | Peter Weis