Tuchel: Stuttgart game 'really important'
Borussia Dortmund head coach Thomas Tuchel is looking for a return to winning ways when second-placed BVB host lowly VfB Stuttgart on Sunday (15:30CET/14:30GMT).
Top stars in contention
"It’s a really important game in terms of bringing an end to our two-match losing run," the former 1. FSV Mainz 05 tactician told the assembled press on Saturday, a reference to the surprise UEFA Europa League defeat to FK Krasnodar and last Friday’s 3-1 reverse at Hamburger SV. "The defeat in Krasnodar doesn’t bother me that much, though. We gave it everything and were very unlucky to lose."
Team effort notwithstanding, Tuchel acknowledged that his side need to take more of their chances if they are to get a result at home to Stuttgart: "We’ve talked about it as a team. That bit of precision in the final ball is lacking. We can only blame ourselves for the lack of punch in front of goal."
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has netted 15 of BVB’s 36 Bundesliga strikes in 2015/16 and he, like fellow attacker Marco Reus, should be fit and raring on Sunday after missing out against Krasnodar. "It’s looking good for Auba and Marco," Tuchel revealed. "I’m pretty sure they’ll both be able to play."