Kuzmanović plots Stuttgart revival

Though a thigh injury has consigned him to the sidelines, Zdravko Kuzmanović is backing Bundesliga strugglers VfB Stuttgart to "rise again", starting with the visit of FC Unirea Urziceni in a must-win UEFA Champions League encounter.

All or nothing
The latest setback in a dispiriting campaign came on Saturday when, leading ten-man VfL Bochum 1848 1-0, Stuttgart conceded an 89th-minute equaliser. By then Kuzmanović was merely an interested observer, forced off before the half-hour mark with a knock that has ruled him out of Wednesday's game. Having struck twice in three appearances in this competition, the Serbian midfielder will be sorely missed.

'Strong qualities'
Defeat left VfB without a home win since August, marooned in the bottom three and, ultimately, led to coach Markus Babbel losing his job. The new man at the helm is Christian Gross and for Kuzmanović the Unirea match − when victory would secure a first knockout round place at the Romanian side's expense − offers the perfect opportunity to re-energise a faltering campaign. "This is a final, if we win then we can go further," said the 22-year-old. "At the moment the situation is very difficult because we have not played so well. We are in a bit of a difficult situation, but I believe we will rise again."

'Different game'
Stuttgart have not won either of their two Group G games at the VfB Arena to date, drawing 1-1 with Rangers FC and losing 3-1 to Sevilla FC. Kuzmanović, though, fancies that is about to change: "We are playing at home so we can control the pace. We drew 1-1 over there [in Romania] and it was a hard game. We were leading but in the end it was fair result. Now it's going to be a different game at home. We must win."