Sebastian Hoeness is not satisfied with a run to the DFB-Pokal final, as the Stuttgart boss said, “we want more”.
Stuttgart overcame RB Leipzig 3-1 on Wednesday to book a showdown with third-tier Arminia Bielefeld, who stunned holders Bayer Leverkusen in the other semi-final.
Goals from Angelo Stiller and Nick Woltemade put Stuttgart 2-0 up, with goalkeeper Alexander Nubel in fine form to thwart Lois Openda on three occasions at the other end.
Leipzig, under the tutelage of interim head coach Zsolt Low, hit back through Benjamin Sesko just after the hour, but it was not enough to inspire a comeback, with the two-time DFB-Pokal winners hitting the woodwork late on after Jamie Leweling had restored Stuttgart’s two-goal advantage.
And Hoeness now wants his team to complete the job next month.
“Yes we will go to Berlin,” he said. “We worked hard against a tough Leipzig team.
“We were rewarded for our efforts by scoring at the right times. We defended with passion and how we dealt with Leipzig’s goal for the 2-1 was outstanding.”
“It is already now a dream to be going to Berlin. Obviously, we want more now, but we will talk about that in the coming days.”
Guten Morgen an alle -POKALFINALISTEN!!!!!! #VfB | #DFBPokal | #VfBRBL | #GetragenvonStolz pic.twitter.com/rKK9FXU036
— VfB Stuttgart (@VfB) April 3, 2025
Leipzig had 25 shots and finished with a higher expected goals tally than Stuttgart (1.81 to 0.89), leaving Low frustrated.
“The disappointment is bitter. In many areas we were better than Stuttgart,” he said.
“We tried to work harder in the second half.
“Now we need to process this. It is a setback for us because we wanted to reach the final.”
Leipzig are sixth in the Bundesliga and dismissed coach Marco Rose following last week’s defeat to Borussia Monchengladbach.
They will meet Stuttgart again on the final day of the Bundesliga season.
