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🇩🇪 Germany /Sports

Bundesliga: Stuttgart's attacking power shines as El Khannouss and Demirović deliver

From Die Zeit · () German

Translated from German and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

Newswire From a news agency Outcome reported
  • VfB Stuttgart beat 1. FC Köln 4-1 for their first Bundesliga win of the season, one week after losing 5-1 to Bayern Munich.
  • Bilal El Khannouss impressed, while Ermedin Demirović scored shortly after coming on and responded to speculation that he could leave the club.
  • Deniz Undav was substituted with an Achilles tendon problem, and Stuttgart will face Viking Stavanger in the Champions League on Wednesday.

Ermedin Demirović needed only five minutes on the pitch to answer weeks of uncertainty. Introduced for the injured Deniz Undav in VfB Stuttgart's 4-1 win over Cologne, the striker powered down the right and scored from a tight angle.

The goal carried more than the value of a fourth goal. Demirović had spent the summer hearing speculation that Stuttgart might sell him, with Galatasaray Istanbul reportedly interested shortly before the transfer window closed. He said the constant talk had left him wondering, "Do I really have to look around now? Am I really so unwanted?"

Do I really have to look around now? Am I really so unwanted?

· Ermedin DemirovićThe Stuttgart striker described the doubts created by repeated transfer speculation.

He had fallen behind Undav and new €25 million signing Dzenan Pjecinovic in the attacking pecking order. Pjecinovic had scored a hat-trick in the 4-0 German Cup win at Hansa Rostock, adding to the pressure on the Bosnia and Herzegovina international.

I wanted simply to restore the respect attached to my name.

· Ermedin DemirovićHe explained what motivated his response after scoring against Cologne.

Demirović said he decided to stay after many intense conversations and "a lot of headaches." Coach Sebastian Hoeneß made him feel important and wanted at the club. "Then I really left the coach no other choice," Demirović said.

His performance could earn him a starting place when Stuttgart open their Champions League campaign against Norwegian club Viking Stavanger on Wednesday. El Khannouss had already stood out before Demirović's goal, while Undav's Achilles problem and subdued appearance after the match did little to overshadow Stuttgart's attacking depth.

Then I really left the coach no other choice.

· Ermedin DemirovićHe described his decision to stay after talks with coach Sebastian Hoeneß.
About this summary

Originally published by Die Zeit in German. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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