After two monumental Bundesliga victories, Get German Football News recently christened VfB Stuttgart as the Bundesliga “Team of 2026”. The professionals associated with the BaWü capital city club appear to have no problem with this moniker. Sebastian Hoeneß’ Swabians ride high after defeating Champions League rivals Bayer Leverkusen and Borussia Dortmund to begin the new calendar year.
Stuttgart exude confidence everywhere
Stuttgart’s rollicking start to the New Year is especially impressive when one considers the fact that VfB are still missing talismanic attacking midfielder Bilal El Khannouss at the ongoing Moroccan hosted Africa Cup of Nations. Hoeneß’ crew hope to carry forward their 2026 momentum into the official start of the 2025/26 Bundesliga “Rück-runde” in their Sunday league fixture against 1. FC Union Berlin.
Union upset Stuttgart on opening day back in August at the Stadion An der Alten Försterei. One assumes that Stuttgart are confident of turning the tables at the MHP Arena on Sunday. This despite the fact that Steffen Baumgart’s Union are on something of a roll themselves. GGFN is pleased to supply some of the recent quotes from professionals associated with the Bundesliga “Team of 2026”.
Deniz Undav feeling the flow
“I think I could have scored ten goals by myself today,” Undav told Sky Germany after the Dortmund win. “I had a lot of chances that were 100 percent certain, but I didn’t score just to make it interesting. I’m happy for both of them [Demirovic and Nartey]. It shows that we have other players who can score. It’s good when it’s spread out. I hope that gives them both a boost. We have a broad squad and still have a lot of games to play, so let them keep scoring!“
Nikolas Nartey defying reality
The Dane – who many thought would literally never play again due to protected cartilage problems in his knee – is suddenly back after two years mostly spent either off the pitch or working rehab assignment with the VfB reserves. A total of 15 first team appearances is the most the 25-year-old ever made for Stuttgart since moving to the club in 2019. Nartey officially marked the halfway point of the Bundesliga season with his first ever Bundesliga goal.
“Anyone who is injured for so long and comes back in such good form is a very special story,” VfB board-member-for-sport Fabian Wohlgemuth noted in the mixed zone on Wednesday. “To come back like that after such a long period of suffering is very extraordinary. He’s my pick for the ‘man-of-the-first half-of-the-season. To develop that motivation again and again, to start over again and again after setbacks and commands my utmost respect.“
“I had plenty of times in which I thought everything was shit,” Nartey himself said. “But my friends and family helped me and the coach believed in me. It’s been so long that I forgot how to celebrate. I’ve worked hard to keep proving myself. It took a long time, but it’s been worth it.“
Ermedin Demirovic wants more
Given the long injury layoff, one wouldn’t expect that Ermedin Demirovic would be able to reach the goal-scoring totals he sets for himself every year this time around. Weirdly enough, with half the season still to go, it’s not inconceivable that the 27-year-old (currently sitting on four goals) can score 15 for club again this year.
Demirovic seems to think he can, and wants to continue to atone for his horrible 2022 DFB Pokal Final with Freiburg by collecting a second consecutive domestic cup. The Bosnian international found himself full of energy after scoring on his return to the Stuttgart starting XI.
“This was one of the best days I’ve ever had in football,” Demirovic said afterwards. “I’m incredibly happy today. The winter break unleashed everyone’s energy. Everyone is eager to score goals, win games, and celebrate victories. The ambition to want more is present in every training session and every game.“
