Hoeneß tough on VfB's Europa League squad

Shut up, the squad is set: VfB coach Sebastian Hoeneß once again had to make difficult decisions. IMAGO/Jan Huebner

Last season, it happened to someone who later became the shooting star of the year: Nick Woltemade was not nominated by Hoeneß for Stuttgart's Champions League squad. Although the free transfer from Werder Bremen played it down, the stab in the heart stung until the very end. "Then I'll play in the Champions League next year," Woltemade said at the time with a sour face. And it worked out. Next season for Newcastle United.

Justin Diehl was also forced to watch the Champions League matches on TV or from the stands. A gut-punch for the U-21 international, who has now been hit hard again. Also because he's been struggling with injuries for weeks. Sitting next to him last year was Ramon Hendriks , who will be there this time when Stuttgart face Vigo, Basel, Fenerbahce, Feyenoord, Deventer, Tel Aviv, Roma, and Bern in the group stage.

Other established players who were still with the club in 2024/25 were cut: Ameen Al-Dakhil and Leonidas Stergiou , who have also been struggling with injuries for weeks, as well as club regular Pascal Stenzel . Furthermore, Yannik Keitel and Silas , who had been tipped for a move during the transfer window, as well as U-17 World and European Champion Noah Darvich , who has just joined from FC Barcelona's reserve team, had to bite the bullet.

"It was, like last year, a very difficult undertaking," says Hoeneß, citing two factors. "First, we have a very large squad, and second, there are regulations that apply to this list and that have made it difficult again." By this, the 43-year-old is referring, among other things and primarily, to the "local player rule," which requires a minimum number of talents and/or young professionals trained within the club and/or association.

This benefits Dominik Nothnagel and Alexander Groiß from the Swabians' third-division team. Thomas Kastanaras , who was already on the list last year but never played, also appears again. And currently, after a serious knee injury, he has no prospects anyway. This highlights the absurdity of the regulations.

The regulations are there, even if I don't understand them.

"I had to tell a few players that they weren't on this list. These weren't easy conversations, of course," says Hoeneß, who "would have loved to have everyone there. But there's no point in complaining. The regulations are there. We have to act accordingly and make decisions. Even if I don't understand them."