Hoeness: "I hope the fans will be a factor"

Sebastian Hoeness on…

…the personnel situation: „Ermin Bičakčić, Robert Skov, Fisnik Asllani, Kevin Vogt and Chris Richards are out. Everyone else is available to play."

…the support from the stands: "The fans play a big role. We're totally delighted that things are moving in the right direction again. The fans add an extra level of spice in a match like this. I include opposition supporters in that too. I'm of course hoping that the fans will push us forward and be a factor. We want to produce a really good performance for the fans and are looking forward to it."

…Stuttgart's form: "VfB are going through a difficult season, but ultimately they have 11 good footballers on the pitch. We won't underestimate the opponent because of their league situation. A derby has its own laws. With that in mind, it will likely be an emotional game in which we'll need to show the right mentality. We'll need to focus on ourselves and produce on the pitch. Then we can remind VfB that they are in a difficult situation."

…the negative recent record against VfB: "We've ended several negative runs in recent months. The aim is to do so again on Friday. The games have been very different lately. In the 3-3 draw in the last home game, for example, we only conceded the equaliser in injury time. We weren't satisfied with the 3-1 defeat in the reverse fixture, so we want to show a different side to ourselves on Friday. It's a new game with new challenges and different circumstances.

…his personal history in Stuttgart: "I have a history with VfB, which is why I see the club slightly differently to other clubs. But that won't play a role on Friday, because I want to get the three points."

Head-to-head record:

VfB have the superior head-to-head record in the Bundesliga, with 10 wins, six draws and seven defeats. However, TSG have not lost a single one of their last six home games against Stuttgart (four victories and two draws).

The opposition's form:

Stuttgart are without a win in the Bundesliga since beating Wolfsburg 2-0 away in mid-December. That decline in form has seen the Swabians drop to 17th place. Last weekend, coach Pellegrino Matarazzo's team came within a whisker of claiming victory – only to concede a stoppage-time equaliser to Bochum and draw 1-1.

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