VfB Stuttgart winger Chris Führich on UEFA Champions League race, reaching back-to-back DFB Cup finals and the 2026 FIFA World Cup
A key member of the VfB Stuttgart side that lifted the DFB Cup in 2024/25, Chris Führich is not only hoping to help the Swabians retain their crown this season but secure a return to the UEFA Champions League. We sat down with the winger to discuss the upcoming clash with top-four rivals Hoffenheim, Deniz Undav’s sparkling form and the FIFA 2026 World Cup...
Bundesliga: Chris, you’re up against top-four rivals Hoffenheim at the weekend. Are these the kind of games you particularly relish, with Champions League qualification still up for grabs?
Chris Führich: “Yes, definitely. We’re looking forward to the game and we know how important it is to win and give ourselves a bit of a buffer going into the final stretch. It feels a bit like a semi-final ahead of the last couple of games. We’re really looking forward to it and will give our all to get the three points.”
Bundesliga: You’re playing against your direct rivals in the table. If Hoffenheim is like a semi-final, then the final is probably against Bayer Leverkusen [on Matchday 33]. Why, in your opinion, will Stuttgart qualify for the Champions League?
Führich: “We’ve been very consistent across the whole season. Despite playing in three competitions, we’ve put in some good performances. We have a lot of self-confidence and we know the quality we possess as a team. If we show that on the pitch, we can beat any opponent - and that’s our aim.”
Bundesliga: You mentioned that Stuttgart have become more mature, in the Bundesliga in particular. In Europe, you delivered a promising performance against Porto in the UEFA Europa League last 16 but didn’t quite do enough to progress…
Führich: “If we perform like we did against Porto, when we did everything but get the goals we needed, I still think that is something we can build on. We’ve been in Europe now for two seasons in a row, and I think we made huge progress in our first season in the Champions League. We’ve gained experience, and we’ll give everything in these last few games to get back into the competition so we can do better next time.”
Bundesliga: In what other ways have Stuttgart established themselves as a top Bundesliga side in the past two or three years?
Führich: “I think we’ve become more consistent in that time. We’ve been able to pick up wins and perform during tiring periods. We’ve had a good foundation this season thanks to a deep, quality squad, which has enabled us to make changes when needed. It’s important in periods like this that everybody is ready to perform, and I think that’s been the case this season. Otherwise, we wouldn’t be where we are now.”
Bundesliga: How reassuring is it to have Deniz Undav and Ermedin Demirović up front, and why do they work so well together?
Führich: “A lot of teams would love to have players like Deniz and Ermedin. Deniz has an unbelievable record this year and Ermedin has also hit double figures, despite being out injured for a long time. He’ll always score goals. We’re very grateful that they’re here and we hope they stay with us for a long time.
“Ermedin is more of a traditional striker. Although Deniz is also a striker, he floats around a bit more, which is why they complement each other so well.”
Watch: What sets Undav apart from other strikers?
Bundesliga: Why will Stuttgart win the DFB Cup?
Führich: “We know how hard it’s going to be [against Bayern Munich], but we go into the game determined to win it. We need to push ourselves to our limits, but we still have a bit of time [to prepare] because we want to finish our league campaign on a high. After that, we’ll give our all to win the cup as well.
“Bayern have unbelievable quality, which you saw in their Champions League semi-final first leg against Paris Saint-Germain. We have to push ourselves past our limits to beat them. We have to focus on our upcoming games first, then we’ll prepare with all we have for the final.”
Bundesliga: You witnessed the euphoria that swept the city when you won the cup last year. What would it mean to defend your title?
Führich: “Firstly, it’s an unbelievable effort to reach the final again. It would be very special for every player and the club if we were able to defend the title. We’ll give our all in order to achieve that.”
Bundesliga: With six goals and as many assists in the Bundesliga, you’ve had a very good season so far - almost as good as the 2023/24 campaign, when you finished runners-up [to Leverkusen].
Führich: “It was a tough start to the season for me, but I was able to find my rhythm relatively quickly by putting in good performances from the bench. I tried to stay calm to get through that period and become stronger on and off the pitch. I was able to stay mentally strong, and 2026 is going exactly how I hoped it would.”
Bundesliga: You were rewarded for those performances when you were recalled to the Germany squad in March. How big a boost did that give you?
Führich: “It’s always very special to play for the national team and it pushes you to get better. For me, it’s a sign that my performances have been recognised and that I’ve made progress. It gives you a push and it’s always an honour.”
Watch: Führich shines against Hamburg on Matchday 29
Bundesliga: You have several other Germany internationals at Stuttgart. How much do you talk about the World Cup?
Führich: “It’s been a topic in the squad, but not just among the German players - some of our other players were involved in the play-offs. Having so many international players in the squad is very special and shows how much quality we have as a team. We’re happy that so many players will be involved at the World Cup. Hopefully there will be a couple more too.”
