“It puts me in a positive mood”

Oliver Glasner on…

...personnel: “Ragnar Ache and Daichi Kamada are out injured. It was close with Daichi, but not close enough. We don’t want to take any risks because we still have a lot of games. Filip Kostic is out with the flu.”

…possible attacking options: “Paciencia is an option up top. Two strikers and one in behind is also a possibility. Hauge is fit again too. Knauff can play between the lines, as can Lammers. We have several options in mind.”

…Aymen Barkok: “Aymen is back. Having spent five weeks in a hotel, tested positive for coronavirus and played over 110 minutes in the [Africa Cup of Nations] quarter-final, I’ve granted him time off until we return to training on Tuesday next week. From then on he’ll be a valuable option for us again.”

…VfB Stuttgart: “VfB have had problems scoring goals recently, which is why they’ve collected so few points. But they play really good football, have a lot of pace on the flanks and a very good central midfield with Endo and Mangala.”

…the second half of the season so far: “I can accept our performances, although I’m not happy with our points haul. We’re creating a lot more opportunities compared to the early part of the season, we’re just not making the most of our chances at the moment. The players are willing to improve, which puts me in a positive mood.”

Ansgar Knauff: “Ansgar has settled in very well, which is partly down to him and partly down to the team, who have given him a very warm welcome. His strengths include work rate, pace, getting into deep positions and attacking spaces behind the defence.”