Ermedin Demirovic on his duel with Edmond Tapsoba in the DFL Super Cup: “If we weren’t on the football pitch, things would have turned out differently”
Speaking after VfB Stuttgart’s loss on penalties to Bayer Leverkusen in the DFL Super Cup (via kicker), Ermedin Demirovic commented on his duel with Bayer Leverkusen defender Edmond Tapsoba throughout the game.
On the initial collision which is suggested to have resulted in a headbutt, Demirovic said:
“I don’t want to let myself fall in moments like that because I’m not the type of person who falls because of such a small contact.”
The 26-year-old then went into detail about the incident:
“That was simply disrespectful. He had his hand on my neck the whole time, If we weren’t on the football pitch, things would have turned out differently. It doesn’t belong in sport. His hand has no place on my face or my neck. Things like that get on my nerves.”
Demirovic then ended his view on the matter with:
“I don’t have to talk to him to clear it up. We’ve never been friends and we’ll never be friends. So that’s fine with me.”
In the Bosnian’s official debut for VfB Stuttgart, he was very impressive. First playing up front by himself, Demirovic caused several issues for the Leverkusen back line, even hitting the post after some great defending from Piero Hincapié to force him wide. Then when his likely strike partner for the season, Deniz Undav, was subbed on the pair, although unable to score, combined well.
Demirovic joined Stuttgart this summer from fellow Bundesliga side Augsburg for €21m, then Stuttgart’s transfer record. It is likely that the former RB Leipzig and SC Freiburg striker will be the replacement for Borussia Dortmund’s Serhou Guirassy.
Although he offers a different profile to the Guinean, what was shown on Saturday night suggests that Stuttgart may not miss their main man from last season.
GGFN | Jack Meenan
