By Peter Vice @ViceytheSS
Speaking at a Monday presser, VfB Stuttgart head-coach publicly called out one of his attackers for not bringing the pace required at his current position.
Congolese attacker Silas Katompa Mvumpa has continued to struggle on the comeback trail after a major ACL injury in the spring of 2021 interrupted what had been scintillating form. The 24-year-old – once considered to be a major budding talent – failed to either score a goal or register an assist in nine appearance last season. This year, Silas hasn’t gotten on the scoresheet since bagging a brace on matchday 10.
Silas played on his preferred position on the right flank on that day. Most recently, the attacker has been deputizing for injured center-forward Serhou Guirassy as the team’s lead striker. Silas has started alone up top against Köln, Schalke, and Bayern. In all three cases, he hasn’t looked to be in very convincing form.
VfB trainer Bruno Labbadia acknowledged this fact at a Monday presser. Club sporting director Fabian Wohlgemuth – also in attendance at the press conference – voiced criticisms of Silas’ performance against Bayern over the weekend as well.
“He didn’t play that well at Schalke and wasn’t able to assert himself against Munich,” Labbadia said, “He doesn’t quite bring the pace we’d like. But that’s independent of the position, he doesn’t quite bring it on the outside either. That’s a problem, there’s too little coming.”
“I would have liked to seen certain balls secured better,” Wohgemuth added, taking direct aim at some of Silas’ failed hold-ups.
Labbadia did take care to emphasize that he felt Silas’ performance against Köln on matchday 20 was generally good. Moreover, in light of the “lack of alternatives”, the VfB gaffer noted that the coaching staff was working intensively with the player and that he would likely also get the nod against Eintracht Frankfurt and VfL Wolfsburg before the coming international break.
“It’s an issue for us that there’s not enough going on,” Labbadia said, “We’re work with him and we need his dynamism. That’s why we’re waiting to see what’s in store for next week.”
