Kiel remain without Holtby and Berhardsson against Stuttgart | OneFootball

Kiel skipper Lewis Holtby remains out for the Storks with back problems. Photo: Dean Mouhtaropoulos, Getty Images

Holstein Kiel head-coach Marcel Rapp confirmed that captain Lewis Holtby and striker Alexander Berhardsson will remain out for this Saturday's coming league fixture against VfB Stuttgart. Holtby was forced to sit out last round's match against Union Berlin with back problems. Bernardsson had to be subbed off in the 0-2 loss and will remain out with macular issues in the adductor area.

Rapp spoke on his tram's prospects at a Thursday pre-match presser. Kiel has conceded a league-high 21 goals this season; 14 of which have come in the first half of their seven league fixtures. The porous defense has allowed 11 goals in before the half-hour mark of the matches has been reached. Facing a Stuttgart side riding high after defeating Juventus, matters are not looking good for the Storks.

Rapp nevertheless sought to place a brave face on matters. Several teams - Hoffenheim, Mainz, and Sparta Prague - have been able to draw Stuttgart at home this season. Rapp noted that the strategic approaches of those three teams had been incorporated into his own tactical considerations. The Kiel trainer also challenged the notion that his team was blown apart too easily.

“I don't see in most games that our opponents are playing through us," Rapp said,  "It's not that we have no chance at all. We just have to attack the duels more fiercely and resolutely. I don't see a need to park the bus in front of our own goal."