Record losing run puts pressure on Stuttgart boss

Berlin: Pressure is mounting on VfB Stuttgart boss Thomas Schneider ahead of the crucial Bundesliga clash with fellow strugglers Eintracht Frankfurt on Sunday and which he hopes will bring to an end the club`s record losing run.

The 41-year-old has been in charge since August after predecessor Bruno Labbadia was sacked, but last weekend`s 2-1 home defeat to Hertha Berlin set an unwelcome club record of seven straight defeats. With just five league wins this season, the team are in 15th place and just above the relegation places. Schneider has been given the ominous vote of confidence by both Stuttgart`s director of sport Fredi Bobic and chairman Joachim Schmidt. "We are convinced that we can turn things around with him," insisted Bobic. Despite that he remains the most likely candidate to become the sixth Bundesliga coach to be sacked this season. "We are convinced that we can turn things around with him," insisted Bobic. Frankfurt are 13th, but just three points above the bottom three, and precious points are at stake with both teams out to avoid the dreaded drop. "This match won`t decide anything," Schmidt told local paper the Stuttgarter Nachrichten. "It is an extremely important game, but not one which will ultimately decide the coach`s future." With 12 games left to safeguard Stuttgart`s Bundesliga status, Schneider says he can keep the club up, despite the "catastrophic series" of results. "I think that my work will be seen and that we can rectify the situation," he said. Schneider will be hoping that Frankfurt will still be fatigued after Thursday`s 3-3 draw with FC Porto in the Europa League which saw the German side go out on the away goals rule as the tie finished 5-5 on aggregate. Schneider, who spent 12 years as a pro at Stuttgart before retiring in 2005, will have captain Christian Gentner back from injury and Moritz Leitner will return after serving a suspension to boost his midfield. Frankfurt boss Armin Veh is without suspended captain Pirmin Schwegler and midfielder Sebastian Rode, who has a knee injury. Five German league coaches have already been shown the door this season including Labbadia, Thorsten Fink (by Hamburg in September), Michael Wiesinger (by Nuremberg in October), Mirko Slomka (by Hanover in December) and Bert van Marwijk (by Hamburg in February).