Holger Badstuber criticizes the squad composition of VfB Stuttgart. In the eyes of the ex-professional, the Swabians rely too much on young players.

"The risk of starting the season with so many young players and their inexperience is too great," writes Badstuber on his personal blog badstuber28.de. "A functioning team needs the right mix of young and old. If this is consistently right, there will also be stability. That's where the path should lead."

Under the headline "Unrest at VfB: The alarm bells are ringing", the 33-year-old is concerned about the current situation in Swabia. After leaving Stuttgart - Badstuber was active at VfB from 2017 to 2021 - he wished for "peace and a safe place in the Bundesliga" for the traditional club - so far in vain.

Badstuber complains about the lack of stability in the club and refers, among other things, to the uncertain future of sports director Sven Mislintat. The unrest in the management floor also leaves its mark on the team, which is in a process of change anyway.

At the moment there is not only a lack of the necessary defense strength and a goalscorer. At the 0:5 in Dortmund he didn't have the impression, Badstuber continued, that the players had recognized the seriousness of the situation. For VfB, every game is already about staying up in the league.

The ex-national player clearly criticizes the decision-makers. As the youngest team in the league, a lack of stability was inevitable. However, those responsible consciously took this risk.

The focus on young players has meant that VfB is now a through club, which the younger generation in particular only uses as a stepping stone. "The consequences are a lack of identity and identification with this venerable traditional club," Badstuber summarizes his thoughts.

This article was originally published on 90min.com/de as Too many young players: Badstuber criticizes squad policy at VfB Stuttgart.