It's not a game like any other for Fabian Rieder. The Emmental native, who left the Young Boys for Rennes last year and has been playing for VfB Stuttgart since this summer, will meet his favorite club in the Champions League on Wednesday.
“I went to YB games with my dad when I was five,” says Rieder the day before the duel with the Bernese. As a teenager he moved to the Young Boys youth department and at the age of 18, Rieder made his debut for YB in the Super League. In the yellow and black uniform, the now 22-year-old became a national player.
Live notice
Open the box
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We will show the CL game between Stuttgart and the Young Boys live on Wednesday evening on SRF two and in the Sport app. The preliminary reporting starts at 8:10 p.m., kick-off is at 9:00 p.m.
«It will be a special game for me. But also for my family and those YB players who know me well,” Rieder looks ahead to the encounter in Stuttgart and reveals: “I've been looking forward to it since the draw.”
The 3 points in sight
Rieder and his VfB Stuttgart are the clear favorites, even if the Swabians have remained somewhat below expectations in the “premier class” with 4 points so far. Accordingly, Rieder said confidently before the home game against the Young Boys, who still had no points: “It is our aim to get the three points and we want to act like that from the first second.”
Hoeness wants more scorer points
He doesn't yet know whether Rieder will be allowed to play against YB from the start. In the five CL games so far, the Swiss has never been in the starting lineup and only played 110 minutes. In complete contrast to the DFB Cup, where Rieder was always able to start. In the Bundesliga he was substituted 7 times and 6 times.
Sebastian Hoeness, the coach of VfB Stuttgart, is happy to have Rieder in the team. “He has an outstanding left foot. The basic things are all very, very good with him,” explains the 42-year-old. There is still room for improvement: “With his qualities, he should achieve more scorer points in the future. More assists, more goals. That is also his claim.”
Friends in the stadium should inspire Rieder
In preparation for the duel with the Young Boys, Hoeness also asked Rieder, who, according to his own statements, watches the YB games whenever possible. “He got two or three pieces of information from me,” confirms Rieder.
The encounter on Wednesday evening will also be special for Rieder because “around 30 to 35 people” from his environment will be in the stadium. Hoeness hopes this will have a positive effect on his protégé: “Of course there is a danger that you will want too much and want to do things too well. But I assume that it will inspire 'Fabi'.”
