Nick Woltemade livid after latest Stuttgart performance: “Can’t approach a Bundesliga game like that.” | OneFootball

Borussia Dortmund professionals Nico Schlotterbeck and Emré Can weren’t the only Bundesliga players unsparing in their criticism of their own team this weekend. VfB Stuttgart striker Nick Woltemade expressed grave dissatisfaction with his side’s performance following a 2-2 draw with Holstein Kiel on Saturday afternoon. Stuttgart skipper Atakan Karazor did offer a more optimistic take.

The 2023/24 Bundesliga runners-up are among the top clubs falling behind in the quest to qualify for Europe next year. Saturday’s draw left the Swabians in 8th place in the table, outside even the UEFA Europa Conference League qualification spot. Wolfsburg, RB Leipzig, SC Freiburg, Eintracht Frankfurt, and league sensations Mainz 05 are ahead of Stuttgart in the race for Europe.

Woltemade – who opted to join Stuttgart on a free from Werder Bremen this past offseason – seemed frustrated that he didn’t get a chance to join the Champions League side he thought he was headed to. VfB head coach Sebastian Hoeneß famously couldn’t find room for Woltemade on the autumn UCL squad during the group stages.

By the time Woltemade established himself in the league, there would be no UCL spring football for the eliminated Württembergers. VfB captain Atakan Karazor took a more optimistic view. Despite all their issues, Stuttgart are still only five points below fourth-placed Eintracht Frankfurt. Dino Toppmöller’s SGE also lost against Union Berlin on Sunday.

“There are still nine games to go and a lot can still happen in these nine games,” Karazor said on Saturday. “Our goal remains the same: we want to be up there with the top clubs. We have what it takes. To do that, we have to get back to our old strength.“

GGFN | Peter Weis