By Oliver Trust
BERLIN, Oct. 21 (Xinhua) -- While 38-year-old Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo is playing for al Nassr FC in Saudi Arabia's capital Riad, Serhou Guirassy came near his historic mark of 15 goals achieved in the first eight games in the shirt of Real Madrid in the 2014/15 season.
Guirassy, 27, scored his 14th season goal when the VfB Stuttgart harvested his sixth consecutive victory in the German first-tier's eighth round of matches securing the second position behind table leaders Leverkusen by a 3-0 against Union Berlin.
While Xabi Alonso's side in advance of the current season was expected to join the exclusive circle of title candidates, Stuttgart is a surprise and the team of the hour.
Fans might still rub their eyes in disbelief considering their club's recent past including two relegation accidents that ended up in the second division in 2017 and 2020 following the club's first division title in 2007.
At present, there is rarely a day passing when the clubs' officials don't have to answer questions about the spearhead's future. Rumors speak of European top sides queuing in line to express their interest.
Stuttgart coach Sebastian Hoeness is repeatedly answering his club has no intention of selling the successful Guinean international; simultaneously aware he will be asked the same the day after.
Following years of drought and suffering, the son of former Bayern striker Dieter Hoeness and nephew of former Bayern president Uli Hoeness, is demanding to enjoy the current high fly without getting lost in big dreams.
Predictions, the VfB might challenge Germany's top dogs when it comes to this season's title, Hoeness is answering with a weary smile.
Guirassy seems to follow his coach's advice as he claims to feel perfectly well in Stuttgart, a club that might have had a glorious past but made a hard landing over the past years.
The club's dwindling significance in German football might have been the ideal spot for the French-born striker to create his breakthrough after failed attempts in Cologne, and France in the shirt of Amiens and Rennes.
Hoeness is calling his best striker a "complete footballer" desperately needing to feel full trust aside from a calm environment for "his family."
Having recovered from financial turbulences caused by mismanagement and the COVID crisis Stuttgart is gaining ground after signing valuable sponsoring contracts with nearby located prominent car manufacturers such as Porsche and Mercedes.
"But we are far from considering wild things; we are aware of where we come from and count on a step-by-step pattern," managing director Fabian Wohlgemuth is saying.
When the 34th Africa Cup of Nations is played from January 13th to February 11th, Stuttgart will have to do without Guirassy for a while, not to speak of fellow striker Silas in the shirt of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
"We see how things go for us then, but we keep fingers crossed for our players participating," Wohlgemuth added. Not only the club officials hope, Guirassy and Silas return in the best shape, but the enchanted fans. ■
